Salvatore Frank Corrao

Salvatore Frank “Sonny” Corrao, died at the age of 73 on August 25, 2017 after a courageous fight against small cell cancer. He was born in Newark, NJ on September 27, 1943 to James Corrao and Frances Rusiniak Corrao. Sal grew up in Maplewood, NJ in the era of hot rods, doo wop and nuns who would wash your mouth out with soap for saying bad words, such as “son of a gun”. He and his friends walked to school, went home for lunch, played in the streets and down at the park. He was a Duncan Yo-Yo champion in 1952 and his childhood heroes were Hopalong Cassidy and Gene Autry. Sal graduated from Columbia High School in 1961.

After high school, he honorably served in the US Navy in Naples, Italy and on the USS Independence. After the Navy, he earned his undergraduate degree in education from Montclair State College. He began his post-graduate career teaching business classes in high school. He moved from the classroom to the private sector, as an accountant, after earning an MBA from Seton Hall University and becoming a CPA. He moved to California in 1978. He had the highest respect for people who found their passion and dedicated their lives to pursuing it. After retiring from “counting beans” he entered the restaurant business by opening All Star Pizza in Mission Viejo with his oldest son.

Sal loved children and animals; he loved a good story; he loved to laugh (especially at himself) and most of all he loved his family. He coached his sons in baseball and football and attended almost every game they played in and every game or swim meet that his grandchildren participated in. He taught them all to ski and play craps!

Sal is survived by his wife and best friend, Joanne, his sons, Jeffrey and David (Trisha), and his five beloved grandchildren, Chandler, Calvin, Alexa, Landry and Shaye. He is also survived by two brothers, James and Lawrence, many nieces and nephews and friends who are very much family. He was predeceased by both of his parents and a sister, Andrea.

The family asks that to honor Sal’s memory, donations be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center Unit 0705 P.O. Box 301439 Houston, TX 77230-1439 for the benefit of Dr. Paul Corn’s research.

Carpe diem, Sonny.