Salvatore Lombardo Obituary

Salvatore Lombardo was faculty at New Bedford High School in New Bedford, MA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Salvatore Lombardo.

School Role	Faculty
Date of Passing	Dec 31, 2011
About	Salvatore J. "Sal" Lombardo, 83, of Dartmouth, MA passed away at his home on Saturday, December 31, 2011 surrounded by his loving family, after a battle with cancer and Alzheimer's Disease. He was the husband of Ruth (Henkels) Lombardo with whom he shared 55 years of Marriage. Born in Charlestown, MA, son of the late Giacomo and Nunzia (LaCascia) Lombardo, he was preceded in death by brothers, Gaspar, Peter and Joseph and sisters, Nina Belmont and Mae McGurty. He grew up in Charlestown and resided in Fairhaven and Dartmouth, MA for the past 45 years. He was a member of St. Mary's Church of Fairhaven. Sal was a graduate of Charlestown High School Class of 1945 and graduated in 1947 from Huntington Preparatory School in Boston. As a senior at Charlestown High, he was both president of his class and captain of the football team; he also was football captain at Huntington Prep. He graduated from Northeastern University in 1953 with a degree in Business Administration and from Boston University in 1965 with a Master's in Education. At Northeastern University, Sal was the captain of the 1951 undefeated football team. He was considered one of the finest ends, both offensively and defensively, in all of Husky football history. His coach, Joe Zabilski, described him as the "best" both as a receiver and as a tackler. As a senior, he was on the All New England squad. While at Northeastern, he earned three varsity letters in football and two in basketball. After graduating from Northeastern, he was drafted by the L.A. Rams but chose to coach and teach. He coached basketball both at St. Michael's College in Winooski, VT and at Northeastern University. At Dean Junior College he served as Athletic Director and head coach for basketball and football. At Fairhaven High School, he taught in the business department and was the head basketball and football coach. At New Bedford High School, where he taught for 25 years in the business department, Sal was the head basketball coach and the assistant football coach. During one season, he along with assistant coach, Mitch Kuliga, took his basketball team to the Bristol County League Championship and Tech Tournament. In more than 20 years of coaching basketball, he enjoyed over 200 victories. Sal enjoyed teaching night school to adults at New Bedford High School. He will be remembered as a beloved teacher and coach; past players and students still recall the impact he had on their lives. In honor of his athletic accomplishments, Sal was inducted in the Northeastern University Hall of Fame in 1978 and in 1991, into the Hall of Fame at Dean Junior College. Sal was a certified American Red Cross Safety Instructor and head of the swimming program at Camp Nonquit in South Dartmouth. He taught scores of local children the basics of swimming, including his own children and grandchildren. He was an avid gardener and woodworker and made furniture for his children and grandchildren. He was a racket ball player at "The Club" (HealthTrax Fitness and Wellness Center) since the early 1970's, where he was dearly loved and razzed by his many buddies. Sal was an excellent card player and especially enjoyed playing cribbage with friends and family. Surviving in addition to his beloved wife, Ruth, is his daughter, Diane Racine and her husband David of Manassas, VA and their children, James, Jennifer and Katie; a son, Stephen Lombardo and his wife Mariette of Columbia, MO and their children Michael and Jeremy; a son, Mark Lombardo and his wife Rong of Vista, CA and their children Alexander and Lana; and daughter, Jennifer Marszalek and her husband David of Dartmouth and their children Elizabeth and Rebecca; his sisters, Josephine Masucci of Medford and Nancy Lombardo of Charlestown; a brother, Phil Lombardi of Columbus, OH and many cousins,nieces and nephews.