Salvatore Dina's Obituary
Salvatore Dina, 97, passed away in Grapevine Texas on Wednesday, November 27, 2013. Sal was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 26, 1916. He was the eldest of 6 children. His siblings were Joseph, James, Marian, Frank and Catherine. In 1933, Sal had to drop out of his senior year of high school and spent 6 months in the Civilian Conservation Corps maintaining trails and fighting a wildfire in the Idaho Bitterroot Wilderness. This was a wonderful experience for a “kid from Chicago”. Upon his return home, he completed high school and attended Armour Technical College. He was hired as a draftsman by Consolidated Vultee Aircraft, which required him to move to San Diego, CA in January 1941. His fiancé, Helen Martin, followed a few months later and they were married on October 19, 1941 in Los Angeles. In 1951, the family moved to Los Altos after Sal took a job as an engineer with Hiller Helicopter in San Carlos. Sal became interested in plastics, which was a new and growing industry, and worked for several companies in the Bay Area related to the plastics industry. Later he tried his hand at entrepreneurship by opening a small business in Los Altos, using plastics in the manufacture of signs. Sal retired 3 times because he loved working and being around people. Sal was a member of the Lions Club of Los Altos, and the Masons of San Mateo. After 66 years of marriage, Sal lost his beloved wife Helen in 2007. He moved to Texas to live with his eldest son, Don and daughter-in-law, Susan and to begin the final chapter of his life. Sal inherited his father’s love of gardening. He always had fresh flowers in the garden for Helen to cut for her bouquets and plenty of tomatoes and zucchini to share. He also inherited a love of music and dancing. He loved a good party and we had many family parties in our house. Our cousin Renee remembers the way Sal always greeted each person with a very enthusiastic “Hi (and their name)”, and how he was so musically gifted. He enjoyed a good bargain and would always say something like “look what I got at no cost to me!” When asked his secret to long life his answer was “All things in moderation”. 3 words that best sum up Salvatore Dina: “Family comes first”. Sal is survived by his 4 children, Don (Susan), Doug, Rosalind and Alan; his 4 grandchildren Nicole, Gregory, Andrew and John, and his grandchild Logan Carter. He is also survived by his sister Marian Grebasch and sister-in-law Betty Dina, as well as many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and nephews. A small graveside service will be held at Skylawn Memorial Park on Monday, December 16, 2013 at 1:00 PM. Donations may be made in Sal’s name to: American Diabetes Association, P O Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312 www.diabetes.org/donate
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