Salvatore D'Avanzo

Salvatore “Sal” D’Avanzo, age 69, passed away on the morning of August 2, 2024. Sal was born in Avella, Italy, on October 8, 1954, to Giuseppe D’Avanzo and Rosina Sanseverino. In 1972, Sal left Avella and emigrated to Everett, MA to follow the American dream. In Everett, he met his wife of over 50 years, Filomena DiGiorgio. They built an incredible life together, and he leaves behind his daughter Rosanna Selvage and her husband Steven Selvage, along with their two children, Lola and Emma; and his daughter Pina Daniel and her husband Sergei Daniel, along with their two children, Ava and Reese.

Sal founded his own plumbing business and worked for years as a plumber in the Everett/Cambridge area. His meticulous attention to detail is evident in the many homes and businesses he worked on. There was nothing Sal couldn’t build with his hands; he was a true engineer, inventor, and creative problem solver. Sal's ingenuity and craftsmanship were unmatched.

Sal loved Napoli Soccer and was an avid fisherman in his spare time, with a particular passion for squid fishing and catching Striped Bass in Nahant. He cherished spending time with his family and friends, always living life to the fullest and enjoying every moment.

He leaves behind three sisters in Italy: Francesca and her husband Bruno Lusi and their children Oderigi and Maria; Angelina D’Avanzo; and his youngest sister, Graziella, and her husband Gerardo Fusco and their children Emilia and Alessandra; his brother-in-law and best friend, Gianni DiGiorgio, and his wife Lisa, and their children John and Michael; and his mother-in-law in Orsogna Italy, Ida Fosco.

Sal leaves us all with a tremendous hole in our hearts, but we will always cherish his infectious smile, wonderful sense of humor, and passion for life. During his final days, he continued to make us smile and laugh, telling us not to worry about him because he had a great life. His final instructions were to “Ballate, cantate, and ridete sempre.”

Donations to:
MGH Northshore Cancer Center

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