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Mayor Peter Marchetti with 102-year-old World War II veteran Anthony Salatino Jr. at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

Pittsfield Veteran Turns 102

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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Mayor Marchetti presents Salatino with a proclamation recognizing his service and contribution to the community. Salatino will turn 102 on Nov. 27. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A city resident and veteran was recognized this week as he closes in on his 102 birthday this month.

On Tuesday, Anthony "Tony" Salatino Jr. was honored during the City Council meeting for this impressive milestone. He was born on Nov. 27, 1922, in Polia, Calabria, Italy, and came to Pittsfield in 1937 with his older brother to join their father.

"I am very honored to be here tonight," he said to a room full of community members, friends, and family before they erupted into applause.

Mayor Peter Marchetti said Salatino experienced challenging times during the Great Depression but always focused on building a strong foundation for his family. He joined the Army in 1943 and after completing training in Virginia, was stationed in England and France for about three years.

Marchetti said he hoped to present Salatino with the proclamation on Veterans Day, the prior day, but it didn't work out.

"I don't think I've ever stood next to someone who was 102 years-to-be," the mayor said.

The Pittsfield High graduate was a corporal and medical technician at Headquarters Medical Corps and received an honorable discharge in 1946.



"In 1947, Tony's many years of hard work paid off when he was able to bring the rest of his family from Italy to Pittsfield, Mass., and provide them with a home," Marchetti read from the proclamation.

Salatino graduated from the New England School of Art in Boston in 1950 and received a degree in Advertising Design. He used this artistic talent to become General Electric Co.'s first graphic design artist in 1955 and he worked as a supervisor in the art department.

He retired from GE 37 years later.

Salatino married his wife of 71 years Bettina Mancuso in Guidonia, Italy, in 1953 and they raised four children in Pittsfield. They have seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

"Tony's devotion to his family is a testament to his love of life and ability to put others before himself," Marchetti read.

"His selflessness, hard work, and love of family is an inspiration to all. His special talents have led him to live the extraordinary long life he has and continues to."


Tags: centenarian,   veterans,   

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Letter: Is the Select Board Listening to Dalton Voters?

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

A reasonable expectation by the people of a community is that their Select Board rises above personal preference and represents the collective interests of the community. On Tuesday night [Nov. 12], what occurred is reason for concern that might not be true in Dalton.

This all began when a Select Board member submitted his resignation effective Oct. 1 to the Town Clerk. Wishing to fill the vacated Select Board seat, in good faith I followed the state law, prepared a petition, and collected the required 200-plus signatures of which the Town Clerk certified 223. The Town Manager, who already had a copy of the Select Board member's resignation, was notified of the certified petitions the following day. All required steps had been completed.

Or had they? At the Oct. 9 Select Board meeting when Board members discussed the submitted petition, there was no mention about how they were informed of the petition or that they had not seen the resignation letter. Then a month later at the Nov. 12 Select Board meeting we learn that providing the resignation letter and certified petitions to the Town Manager was insufficient. However, by informing the Town Manager back in October the Select Board had been informed. Thus, the contentions raised at the Nov. 12 meeting by John Boyle seem like a thinly veiled attempt to delay a decision until the end of January deadline to have a special election has passed.

If this is happening with the Special Election, can we realistically hope that the present Board will listen to the call by residents to halt the rapid increases in spending and our taxes that have been occurring the last few years and pass a level-funded budget for next year, or to not harness the taxpayers in town with the majority of the cost for a new police station? I am sure these issues are of concern to many in town. However, to make a change many people need to speak up.

Please reach out to a Select Board member and let them know you are concerned and want the Special Election issue addressed and finalized at their Nov. 25 meeting.

Robert E.W. Collins
Dalton, Mass.

 

 

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