Sal Orlando

His spirit is carried on by his loving wife Gloria and his three sons and their wives: Tim and Sandy Orlando, Mark and Shelda Orlando, and Scott Orlando. Sal was a devoted grandfather and leaves a loving legacy with his many grandchildren and great grandchildren, including his granddaughter Gina Guthrie and her husband Chris and their beautiful boys Dylan and Lucas; Kelsey Shellito and her husband Bryson and granddaughter Kylie Orlando and grandsons Michael and Ryan Orlando. And an extended family and friends from every walk of life.

Sal was a strong man with a gentle soul. He was born in New Orleans Louisiana to Sam J and Lena Orlando on September 28, 1928, coming into the world as the baby brother of Vic Orlando. He lost his mother early in life and God blessed him with another mother, Christine Orlando who would nurture and cherish him.

Sal was a patriotic man, so when his country called him to serve, he joined the Navy and sailed the seas on the USS Benner as a Radio Man in the Korean War. Prior to joining the Navy, Sal fell in love with a beautiful young woman, Gloria Schwartz, whom he met through his family.

Most of us knew Sal as a loving father, tough business leader, or faithful friend, but Gloria knew him as an impetuous young blue-eyed man who convinced her to elope with him before he joined the service. Such is the power of young love.

As a young man starting out in the world, Sal took his responsibilities for his family seriously. He was a hard worker and navigated a career that took him from real estate sales to the dairy business. And like cream, Sal rose to the top of his professional career, retiring as a GM of Darigold at the age of 62. With all of his professional success, Sal was first and foremost a family man. He was devoted to his family and those of us lucky enough to be embraced as extended family.

How do you measure the life of a man like Sal? Certainly not in years, Sal was an older man who valiantly fought Parkinson’s, but the sum of his life is in his legacy of generosity, integrity, and deep loyalty to his family and friends. We honor Sal’s memory when we are generous to those in need, when we help a friend instead of ourselves, when we love unconditionally.

Friends and family are invited to a visitation on Wednesday, September 2, 2015 from 5-9PM with Rosary beginning at 7PM at Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary, 466 N. Winchester Blvd, Santa Clara. The Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2015 at 11AM at St. Justin Parish, 2655 Homestead Rd, Santa Clara. Entombment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to the Parkinson Institute (Sunnyvale) or Heartland Hospice (Santa Clara).