At 95, Greenwich’s Sal DeAngelo calls it quits – again!

Sal DeAngelo, 95, of Greenwich retired from his first career as a Cadillac salesman in 1990 after working at the local dealership for 42 years.

This week, DeAngelo is retiring again – this time from his post as a Red Baron volunteer at Greenwich Hospital after 26 years of service for a total of 17,024 hours. His departure comes as the nation celebrates National Volunteer Appreciation Week (April 7 - 13).

“I think it’s time to bow out,” said DeAngelo, during a recent visit to the hospital to bid farewell to his colleagues in the Pharmacy Department, where he has volunteered since 1993.

News of DeAngelo’s retirement caught the staff by surprise.

“Salvatore, you cannot retire! You’re family,” said JoAnn Passero, a pharmacy technician, as she fought back tears.

For DeAngelo, volunteering has been a way of giving back to a community he loves. DeAngelo was born in the old Benedict building at Greenwich Hospital in 1923. His two sons and daughter were born at the hospital, too.

He crossed paths with many Greenwich Hospital physicians during his time as a Cadillac salesman. “A lot of the doctors in those days were Cadillac and Oldsmobile owners,” he said. “So I got to know them pretty well.”   

DeAngelo began volunteering at the hospital at a time when female volunteers were known as the “Pink Ladies” and male volunteers were the “Red Barons” based on the color of their volunteer jackets.

In the Pharmacy Department, he’s known not only as a hard worker, but also as a stellar storyteller, regaling staff with tales of World War II and the Greenwich of years ago.

“Sal has a thousand stories to tell. He’s a bit of a Greenwich historian,” said Sean Vigneau, a clinical pharmacist. “It won’t be the same around here without him.”

Stacey Green, director of Volunteer Services, is also sad to see Sal go. “For many years, Sal has been a fixture within the Pharmacy and the Volunteer Services departments,” she said. “Sal’s loyalty and dedication are truly inspirational!”

 

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Submitted by Cos Cob, CT

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