Salvatore M. Latona

Philosopher at heart, lawyer by trade, and humanitarian in practice, Salvatore “Sonny” Latona passed away Friday, July 8, 2022. He left behind a loving family; a flourishing garden of tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, squash, and numerous herbs; bins of homemade chicken soup in the freezer; and a meticulously organized desk and shelves filled with texts from the world’s great religious traditions.

Born and raised in Buffalo, Salvatore graduated from Canisius High School and received his B.A. and J.D. from the University of Detroit, where he met his wife of 55 years Valeria Seski. He practiced law in Buffalo for many years, before moving to Pennsylvania and New Hampshire.

As an attorney and in life, Salvatore was always looking out for the little guy: the displaced, the indigent, and people who need a second chance. He created Beechkrafters to give ex-convicts an opportunity to develop carpentry skills and avoid returning to prison. With a strong sense of duty and boundless compassion, he helped form numerous non-profits including schools, yoga centers, and youth programs that are still thriving today. And if you needed help, Salvatore was the person who would give you the last $20 out of his pocket without hesitation.

Never one to accept the norm, Salvatore taught his four children and nine grandchildren to work hard, to voraciously learn about things outside their comfort zone, and to question everything—as well as to always plan ahead. His well-stocked basement was always ready for the next pandemic: plenty of food supplies, water, and paper goods were stacked up long before panic ensued and store shelves were empty.

Salvatore was a man of few words—except when he’d had a glass or two of his favorite red wine and shared humorous stories of encounters and experiences over the years. He loved nothing more than cooking for family and friends: his breakfasts of eggs, bacon, and potatoes were unparalleled, as were his homemade pasta sauce with stuffed shells and his chicken soup. He was happiest watching loved ones eat and enjoy his food, always urging them to have seconds or thirds.

A dog whisperer at heart, Salvatore was also happiest surrounded by his loyal rescue dogs, who were devoted to him (the fresh bacon and ground beef that he cooked regularly for them may have helped!). He is preceded in death by his favorite furry companions Cody and Basil.

Sal is survived by his wife Valeria, daughter Mira and husband Brian, daughter Valerie and husband David, son Max and wife Roseann, and daughter Natasha; grandchildren Justin, Meera, Galen, Colin, Aidan, Samuel, Adam, Ava, and Alexander; and his sister Constance Prohaska. He is preceded in death by his twin sister Carol Callari and his parents, Ida and Joseph Latona.

A funeral service will be held at Saint Joseph Cathedral in Manchester, NH at 10 a.m. on July 13 followed by committal prayers at Saint Joseph’s Cemetery in Bedford, NH.  In lieu of flowers, Salvatore would have preferred that you reach out to those in your community in need of assistance.