Richard Anthony "Richie" Salzillo

Richard Anthony Salzillo, better known as Richie, passed away at 74 years old on Friday, February 28, 2025. Richie was born in the Bronx on November 3, 1950, son to the late Anthony Salzillo and Mildred Amoroso Salzillo. He was the first child in the family, followed by his sister Geralyn Salzillo Warburton (Jimmy). He spent his childhood and majority of his adulthood on Long Island, moving to Waxhaw, NC in 2010.

Richie and his wife, Linda, married in 1985 and spent 39 years building a lifetime of memories together. The homes they created in both New York and North Carolina were always warm and welcoming, a gathering place for family, friends, and neighbors alike. Their days together were filled with playful bickering, quick comebacks, and the kind of arguments that most of the time ended with a smirk or a knowing glance because beneath it all was a love that never wavered.

During his life Richie loved spending his time enjoying many different interests and hobbies, from RC Airplanes, cooking, enjoying eating at various restaurants (Italian was a favorite), watching TV, and playing the game Mexican Train with family and friends (He would want us to share that he did win the last game he played). Of course, he also enjoyed all things guns, to include but not limited to collecting them, reloading, target shooting, hunting, and his time at the Charlotte Rifle & Pistol Club where he was a range safety officer.

To some, Richie may have seemed like a tough, no-nonsense guy with an intimidating presence, but at his core, he was a big teddy bear, a warmhearted prankster who filled every room with laughter. His sharp sarcasm, quick one-liners, and expressive reactions such as his famous eye rolls never failed to bring smiles to those around him. Richie, however, showed his true toughness in the way he battled cancer on and off over the past decade. Despite the many diagnoses, surgeries, procedures, and treatments, he never let them define him, remaining his fun-loving, spirited self until the very end.

We know that everyone who knew Richie has countless fond memories, far too many to capture in words. While we cannot list them all here, we hope you will continue to share your stories, your laughter, and your love for him. In doing so, we keep his spirit alive, carrying his memory with us always.

Richie is survived by his loving wife Linda Prestipino Salzillo, daughter Christine Mathewson-Rajca and son-in-law Chip, and sister-in laws, Dolores Zirk, Lorraine McAvoy (Kevin), Bunny Gritser (Joseph), and Fran Faraci (Glen), sister Geralyn Salzillo Warburton (Jimmy), along with an abundance of close nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews, as well as many cherished friends and extended family who will deeply miss him.

A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, March 7, 2025, in the Chapel of Gordon Funeral Service, 1904 Lancaster Ave, Monroe, NC 28112, the family will receive friends following the service up until 1:30PM.

The family will receive friends from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM and from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Gordon Funeral Service and Crematory, 1904 Lancaster Ave, Monroe, NC 28112.

Online condolences may be made at www.gordonfuneralservice.com

Gordon Funeral Service and Crematory is honored to be entrusted to care for the Salzillo Family