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Obituary

Salvatore F. Spicola, 72 years old, died on February 22, 2021 from complications of COVID.  He was born in Wilkes-Barre, PA on March 18, 1948, and adopted by Frank and Jennie Spicola of West Babylon, NY.  He started playing saxophone professionally at age 15 for Chuck Berry, and by age 19 he was touring with Lionel Hampton’s band.  He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston MA, and lived there for over twenty years, leading his own band, performing with the Boston Pops, and playing in Boston orchestras for every musical on tour, and out-of-town tryouts.

He was a talented, well-loved and respected woodwind doubler, who played with Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd, toured with Joe Walsh, and multiple National Tours including CATS, ME & MY GIRL and STARLIGHT EXPRESS.  He started his Broadway career with MISS SAIGON, playing the featured “solo saxophone.”  Other credits include CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, multiple Jason Robert Brown concerts and The Mike Treni Big Band.  While he lived in River Edge, NJ for twenty-six years, he spent the last year of his life making new friends at Brightview Senior Living in Paramus, NJ.  He is survived by his daughter, Jenny Spicola of Milwaukee, WI and his wife, Bonnie Panson.

His memory will be celebrated on Thursday, February 25 with a visitation from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm at the Beaugard-McKnight Funeral Home located at 869 Kinderkamack Road in River Edge, NJ.  There will be a brief service at noon, followed by a private burial.

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