Obituary of Victor E. Salerno Jr.

Passed away peacefully on December 17, at home surrounded by his family, at age 79. Predeceased by his parents, Victor Sr. and Mary Salerno; Brothers-in-law, Thomas Malta and Gary Ragan. Survived by his loving and devoted wife of 57 years, Eileen; Children, Kimberly (Edward) Vaquero and Victor E (Meghann) Salerno III; Grandchildren, Amanda, Christopher and Timothy Vaquero and Ayrton and Myles Salerno; Sisters, Dianne Ragan and Debbie Malta; Also, many nephews, nieces, cousins and dear friends.
Vic, as he was known to colleagues, friends, and family, earned a degree in accounting from St. John Fisher University in 1966. Following graduation, he served as a CPA for Deloitte & Touche (formerly Haskins & Sells), performing audit, tax, and business advisory services. In 1971, he joined O’Connell Electric Company as vice president and controller and in 2006 he was named Chief Executive Officer. His career at O’Connell Electric spanned over 50 years, and under his leadership, the company grew to be ranked within the top 50 largest U.S. electrical contractors. 

Vic was a dedicated champion of the Greater Rochester community and engaged in many civic and philanthropic activities in support of the city and its surrounding communities, including serving as Chairman of the Board of the Rochester Museum & Science Center; Member of the Advisory Board of M&T Bank; Member of the Advisory Board of the Wilmont Cancer Institute; Member of the Board of St. Ann’s of Greater Rochester, Inc,; Chairman of the Board for the Community Technology Assessment Advisory Board; Chairman of the Board of the Center for Governmental Research; Treasurer of the Rochester Builders Exchange; Member of the Board for Unions and Businesses United in Construction (UNICON); President of the Rochester Chapter Construction Financial Management Association; Trustee of the Pension and Insurance Funds at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 86; and a Member of Financial Executives International.
 
Most dear to Vic’s heart was St. John Fisher University where he was a Member and past Chairman of the Board of Trustees and past President of the University’s Alumni Board. Vic’s generosity helped to fund the construction of the Victor E. Salerno Center for American Enterprise, home of the University’s business school, as well as the establishment of the Victor E. Salerno, Sr. Scholarship, an endowed fund in his father’s name that supports full-time undergraduate students studying across all disciplines. At the time of his passing, Vic was chairing the University’s capital campaign “Fisher Forward” and in May 2016, Vic was awarded a Doctorate of Human Letters from St. John Fisher University.

Vic was inducted into the Rochester Business Hall of Fame in 2017 and in 2018 was honored as the 81st recipient of the Rochester Rotary Award, the oldest, most prestigious civic award in Rochester. Other honors he earned include the 2019 Distinguished Citizen Award by the Seneca Waterways Council Boy Scouts of America, the 2020 Robert L. Payton Award for voluntary service from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE); the 2012 Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS) Business Achievement Award; and the Rochester Builders Exchange Lifetime Achievement Award, among other honors.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, from 3 – 7pm at Falvo Funeral Home 1295 Fairport Nine Mile Pt. Rd. Webster, N.Y. His private Funeral Mass for close family and friends will be celebrated on Thursday, December 28, 2023, at the Hermance Family Chapel of St. Basil the Great (3690 East Ave., Rochester, NY 14618, on the campus of St. John Fisher University) Entombment private.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Victor E. Salerno Jr.’s name to: Victor E. Salerno, Sr. Scholarship at St. John Fisher University (https://go.sjf.edu/salerno-memorial) or Wilmont Cancer Center.