Salvatore Mangano

Salvatore Mangano, 82, of Camillus, a devoted husband, father and grandfather, died at home Sunday March 22, 2009 surrounded by his family after a lengthy illness. Known as "Sam" to friends and family, he was a successful farmer, and with his brother-in-law, Carmen Emmi, a developer of local real estate and hotels, and the longtime co-owner and operator of the Syracuse Farm Supply store. He was a communicant of Holy Family Church in Fairmount. In 1998, His Holiness John Paul II named him a Knight of the Papal Order of St. Sylvester for his dedication and service to the church. He was born in Linguaglossa, Sicily, where he worked on the family farm growing grapes and hazelnuts, and as a "carrettiere", buying and selling household goods and delivering them by mule cart to surrounding villages. He served in the Italian army. In 1954, after a long-distance correspondence courtship, he married Marie Emmi of Liverpool in a 13th-century Linguaglossa church and immigrated to the United States. Along with his father-in-law and brother-in-law, he became a co-founding partner of Emmi and Sons, the area's favorite growers of peppers, sweet corn, berries and other produce. The business continues to this day. He ended his active business career as the operator of the partnership's Syracuse Farm Supply, located adjacent to the Central New York Regional Market, where he gladly shared his passion and hard-earned wisdom with area farmers and weekend gardeners alike. In addition to Marie, his wife of 55 years, he is survived by his three sons, Rocco (Roberta Haley) Mangano of Onondaga, Anthony (Christi Richer) Mangano of Baldwinsville and Michael Mangano of Camillus; and his two daughters, Rosemary (Alberto) Bianchetti of Baldwinsville and Angelina (Vincent) Falotico of Ridgefield, CT; grandchildren, Maria, Salvatore and Elena Mangano, Emily and Julianna Mangano, Maria Teresa and Grace Bianchetti, and Tess and Anthony Falotico; brother-in-law and business partner, Carmen Emmi of Baldwinsville; sister, Josephine Emmi of Linguaglossa, Sicily; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. During his extended illness he was compassionately cared for in his home by aides Mary Ann and Kylie Fizer, and Mae Wiggins. Services will be at 9:15 a.m. Friday, March 27, 2009 at the Buranich Funeral Home, 5431 W. Genesee St., Camillus and at 10 a.m. in Holy Family Church where a funeral Mass will be celebrated. Relatives and friends may call Thursday, March 26, 2009 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Entombment will be in the Sunset Atrium, Woodlawn Mausoleum, Syracuse. Contributions may be made to Holy Family Church Food Pantry, 127 Chapel Dr., Syracuse, NY 13219 or Catholic Relief Services P.O. Box 17090 Baltimore, MD 21203-7090. www.catholicreliefservices.org