Salvatore Madaffari, son of Vincenzo Madaffari of Oppido Mamertina, Calabria and Raffaela Lepore of Larina, Abruzzo, born on Belmont Ave, Bronx, NY on September 24, 1921, has crossed the final “hurdle” on October 10, 2020 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, at age 99.
He attended Evander H.S. where he played football and ran track. He was well respected in the athletic community and was very proud of winning 1st place in the Penn Relays in 1938. He is listed in the Almanac for that year.
He served in the US Army in Hawaii during WWII. He married the love of his life Angiolina Ruffo, on July 7, 1945. He is survived by her, his 5 children – Stephen (Gilda Visaggi), Pamela (Nicholas Milo), Cathy (Gary Azzari), Sal (Elizabeth Kemp), and Joseph (Debbie Vecchio), 17 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one grandchild.
After being discharged from the army, he and his 5 brothers operated a garment manufacturing factory in the Bronx. Upon retirement, he and Angiolina moved to Rye, NY to live with Pamela and Nicholas – “temporarily” where they resided for 20 years. In 2005 they moved to Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. again with Pamela and Nicholas.
He was a daily communicant at Immaculate Conception, Bronx, Church of the Resurrection, Rye, and Our Lady Star of the Sea, Ponte Vedra Beach. He was a lifelong member of the Holy Name Society and the Serra Club.
During his life, he had a few nicknames. His high school football and track teams called him “the mighty molecule” due to his small stature but incredible speed. He was also known as “the Inspector General” by his family because he would always have to inspect any project that others were working on. And he was known as “The Champ” just because.
He has left an indelible mark on everyone who has had the pleasure of knowing him. He will always be remembered for his sense of humor and joke telling but most important to him were his family, his friends, and his church.
The world has definitely been a better place because of his presence. He will be sorely missed.
A Funeral Mass will be held Thursday, October 22, 2020, 11 am at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
