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Salvatore De Marco
June 20th, 1948 - January 18th, 2025
Salvatore De Marco made his debut into this world June 20th, 1948 in Brooklyn, New York to Charlie and Jean DeMarco. At the age of seven his family moved to Queens where he spent the rest of his childhood.
The second of two boys, Sal was an inquisitive child who loved reading, watching John Wayne movies and the Yankees, playing football and splashing in the fire hydrant with the neighborhood kids.
Sal excelled at academics and socializing. The former got him placed into the advanced high school followed by a scholarship to The City University of New York.
The latter got him kicked out of said university after only a few semesters.
Sal coped by hopping on a flight to Europe where he spent the next year on a 500cc Triumph Daytona wandering from England to Morocco and everywhere in between.
He flew home, hitchhiked across Canada and ended up in Marin County, California where he met a woman who wouldn’t put up with his nonsense and agreed to be his eternal companion.
Sal and Sia were married October 27th, 1973 and baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 31st. They were later sealed for time and all eternity in the Oakland California temple. Sal had a deep conviction of God, his purpose as his son and the guidance and direction this gave; particularly regarding marriage and family, something he wasn't sure he wanted.
Soon after they wed Sal was inspired by Heavenly Father to join the United States Army, June 15 1976 as a 91G, Behavioral Science Specialist. During his 13-year career he served in Germany (twice), New York, New Jersey, Alaska, and ended in Ft. Huachuca, AZ, leaving the service as a Staff Sergeant.
He was awarded the following accolades: Army Commendation Medal (2), Army Good Conduct Medal (3), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (2), Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (3), and the Expert Field Medical Badge.
Sal had a gift when it came to forming relationships, helping people feel at ease and an intuitiveness to what they needed. This aided him in his difficult, though successful work counseling soldiers, their family members and senior veterans; being praised and thanked by all ranks.
The training he obtained during his time in the Army laid the foundation for his lifelong service to God, country and the people who were blessed to receive guidance and inspiration from his talents. Sal worked at the premier residential treatment center Sierra Tucson where he focused on his love of alcohol and drug addiction treatment. He went on to open a private practice, worked with multiple treatment facilities, held experiential workshops nationwide and worked as a prison drug and alcohol counselor.
Sal spent his free time simulating war games virtually and with his many figurines, watching favorite shows with his wife, talking history, music, politics and the gospel with his kids and visiting with family. (One of his favorites was playing tug-of-war with the grandkids and his cane.)
Sal had no greater accomplishment than his family. He was a devoted sports dad, chauffeur, board game competitor, math homework checker and always - always - their #1 fan. His kids never doubted he was proud of them. He spent his later years bragging about their accomplishments and singing the praises of his dear wife.
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We Entrusted Salvatore De Marco's Care To
Adair Funeral Home - Avalon
Adair Funeral Home in Oro Valley features a breathtaking chapel adorned with intricate stained glass butterflies – a truly exquisite setting to bid a poignant farewell. Our expansive central solarium offers an ideal space for receptions or memorial services, where our dedicated staff attends to every detail with utmost care and consideration. In our commitment to honoring Arizona Veterans, Adair can coordinate burial or interment arrangements in national, state, or tribal Veterans cemeteries. Our funeral home is devoted to providing the respect and compassion that Oro Valley families deserve, from multicultural funerals to a diverse array of meaningful memorial items....
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