Salvatore R. Balsamo

Salvatore R. Balsamo, 85, of Princeton, MA & Palmetto, FL, passed away on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in the comfort of his home in Princeton, surrounded by his loving family. He is reunited in Heaven with his loving wife of fifty-four years, Kathleen M. (Smith) Balsamo. They were both members of Saint Anne’s Catholic Church in Shrewsbury, MA.

Salvatore was born in Worcester, MA, son of Raphael and Anna (Vacca) Balsamo. He is survived by a son, Daniel J. Balsamo and his wife Janine of Greeley, CO; a daughter, Laura L. Kuntz of Hardwick, MA; four siblings, Ralph Balsamo of Palmetto, FL, Nancy Balsamo and Diane Baxter, both of Largo, FL, and Dolores Carlson of The Villages, FL; ten grandchildren, Stephanie Cardew, Brittany Balsamo, Sara Roe, Hannah Kline, Danielle Barbee, Kimberlee Kennedy, Marissa Connors, Madeline Kuntz, Luciano Balsamo, and Lily Kuntz; seven great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

Salvatore graduated from the University of Arizona (62’-64’) with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering and later earned his Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (67’-68’), he then returned to MIT to pursue his doctoral degree in Astrophysics.

After retiring from the United States Air Force in 1984 (24 years), he owned a chain of retail personal computer stores in Colorado, had a career in the industrial laser business, was owner of Sunshine Properties and Chief Bottle Washer at Balsamo Brothers Winery.

He and his brother started a family tradition of making wine, a talent he shared and passed on to his children. He was a talented poker player, golf and tennis player, “professional” bocce player and enjoyed driving his convertibles. He was passionate about travel and enjoyed visiting Italy as well as many other countries around the world.

Calling Hours will be on Saturday, August 30, from 9 am until 10:30 am in the Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester, followed by a procession to an 11 am Funeral Mass at Saint Anne's Church, 130 Boston Turnpike Road (route 9 east), Shrewsbury, MA.  Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery, Shrewsbury.