Josh Riley: “this is a speech that I am not supposed to give. That is because Mr. Salati would say: Don't make a fuss about me, you…”

“this is a speech that I am not supposed to give. That is because Mr. Salati would say: Don't make a fuss about me, you have more important things to do. However, today, there is nothing more important than telling Mr. Salati how much we love him and how much we will miss him. Mario Salati was the son of immigrants from Italy who came to Endicott to seek the American Dream, and he found it. Mr. Salati was not just our elementary school principal, he was in a lot of ways the village dad. We all looked up to him because of his quick wit, his commitment to service, and his genuine love for our community, and most of all, his pure kindness. A proud U-E Tiger, Mr. Salati spent his career teaching and leading our public schools because he cared so much about our futures. Outside the classroom, you could find him at Saint Anthony's or the Sons of Italy, where his smile filled every room. For his children, Brian, Colleen, and David, his grandchildren, Aubrey, Lucy, and Charlie, and his brothers Roz and Don, and all of Tiger Nation, I know there is a big hole in your hearts right now. However, as Mr. Salati's favorite, Connie Francis, sang: You're safe in the glow of His love, Sent from the heavens above, Until the day that you're together once more, You'll live in these memories, Until the day that you're together once more.”