Angelo Ronnie Salvi

May 19, 1929 – October 8, 2022

Angelo “Ronn” Salvi, age 93, of Hilliard, Ohio, passed away on Saturday, October 8, 2022.

Ronn was born in 1929 in Portsmouth, England. At the age of 11 months, his mother Doris, who was English, and his father Giuseppe, who was Italian, made the journey to Bergamo, Italy to introduce him to the family. Seriously ill and unable to travel home with his parents, Ronn remained in Italy with his grandmother, Nonna Rocchina, and his Uncle Alfredo. Time passed and while he was deemed well enough to travel, World War II prevented Ronn from rejoining his family. He grew up with his cousins, surround by the beautiful hills and valleys of Bergamo. In addition to his primary education, Ronn worked in the Pasticceria Salvi in Bergamo, and learned many aspects of the restaurant business allowing his culinary talents to begin to surface. At the age of 17, he traveled to England to be with his mother, father, and sister. There he joined the Royal Air Force where he served Great Britain as an officer’s cook.

After Ronn’s mother died only three years later, Ronn and his father followed his sister Betty, who had married an American serviceman, to the United States.

During a trip across the country, Ronn began work at a hotel in Omaha, Nebraska, where he met and fell in love with a beautiful German girl called Inge. They returned together to Columbus, Ohio, to be with family. Ronn went to work with his father, Giuseppe, (a pastry chef), at the Deshler-Hilton Hotel. Both father and son flourished at the Deshler. Handsome, talented, and charming, Ronn was soon promoted to the prestigious position of head chef at the luxury hotel. To demonstrate his dedication, Chef Salvi even lived in the hotel with his new bride, Inge.

As with most great chefs, Ronn itched for independence and joined Bob Hope’s brother, Fred, at a small, start-up steakhouse in Hilliard, Ohio. In 1970, Ronn and Inge purchased the Sirloin Steak House and made it their own. In an area that was still mainly farmland, the Sirloin Steakhouse was an oasis of delicious specialties, including his mouthwatering prime rib and Chef Salvi’s unique new side dish, the Noodle Croquette. The Sirloin thrived and really made a delightful impression on the community.

Yet no chef is ever content until he is true to his own heart, and Italian cuisine was Chef Salvi’s passion. In 1982, he transformed the Noodle Croquette and named it the PastaSalvi. With Inge, he opened Salvi’s at the Continent Ristorante on the North Side of Columbus. A favorite of critics and customers alike, even Doral Chenoweth (a.k.a. The Grumpy Gourmet), gave Salvi’s at the Continent Ristorante a wonderful review in the Columbus Dispatch, where the headline touted ‘Salvi’s Savory Secret: Now That’s Italian!’ Ronn and partner Bernie Gros together expanded into B.G Salvi’s Restaurants at five, unique locations in Central Ohio. The business was sold in 1994 and alas, the new owner opted to discontinue service. By popular demand, Chef Salvi returned in 1998, by teaming up with his son-in-law Carl Howard to open Salvi’s Bistro, bringing back the best of Italy to his familiar hometown of Hilliard, Ohio, and delighting his loyal customers. Salvi’s Bistro continued until Ronn’s full retirement in 2013.

Yet with all his success, Ronn always said his greatest achievement was his family. Beloved husband, father, Chief Chef, and food innovator, he will be greatly missed.

Ronn was preceded in death by his grandmother, Nonna Rocchina (Giuseppina Putti) Salvi; father, Giuseppe Salvi; mother, Doris (Prangley-Caple) Salvi; sister, Betty A. (Salvi, Hinderer) Goodyear; aunt, Idef Salvetti; uncles, Alfredo Salvi and Carlo Salvi; niece, Peggie Ann (Hinderer) Leckrone; and cousin, Walter Salvi.

Ronn is survived by his wife, Inge Becker Salvi; daughters, Corinne Salvi (Terry) Jones and Rocchina (Carl Howard) Salvi; aunt, Laura Salvi; nephew, Randil (Karen) Hinderer; cousins, Lito (Emilia) Salvi, Licia Salvi, Erika Salvi, Cristina Salvi, Pier Angelo (Daniela) Salvetti, Alessio (Manuela Rota) Salvetti, Filippo (Sara) Salvetti, Giorgio Salvetti, and Fabio Merigo; grand-nephews, Richard Hinderer and Robert (Jennifer) Hinderer; great-grand nephews, Renton Hinderer, Eli Hinderer, and Rowan Hinderer; brother-in-law, John D. Goodyear; and many more wonderful cousins and relatives in Italy, England, and the United States.

Visitation will be held Friday, October 14, 2022 from 5-7 PM at Schoedinger Northwest, 1740 Zollinger Road, Columbus, Ohio, 43221. Ronn’s passions were wildlife, birds, cats, and golf, and in lieu of flowers, we kindly request donations be made to a cause of your choice in his memory.