Salvatore Bonanno

Salvatore J. Bonanno., age 75 of Wayne, passed on to his home in eternal glory on Friday, January 19, 2024.

The son of John and Marie (Casela) Bonanno, Sal was born and raised in Brooklyn.

After graduating high school, he attended New York Institute of Technology in Long Island, NY where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering. Sal used his excellent skills with numbers and his love for his fellow man by helping them prepare their dreaded taxes each year. He was a tax preparer at H&R Block in Paterson for twenty-six years and, despite more than one attempt to retire, he was still working to help folks render unto Cesar what was Cesar’s and unto God what was God’s to the present day. None of his clients wanted him to retire and so, despite being past the years of full-time work, Sal showed up each day to the office in Paterson where he was assisted by a homeless man who helped him open the overhead door to his office building. A generous and hospitable guy, Sal always rewarded the man for his kind assistance. 

Sal met the love of his life, Belinda Bueno, a dear gentle woman through a pen pal letter writing exchange. They first met in person when Sal came to meet Belinda who was staying with relatives in Paramus. Belinda’s relatives were impressed by Sal’s gentle and kind demeanor and, before Sal and Belinda headed off for lunch, they commented to Belinda, “He seems really nice!” The two of them ultimately fell in love and married on July 24, 1989 before the justice of the peace and soon after they exchanged wedding promises again before God, family and friends at Our Lady of Consolation Church in Wayne. Their first home as husband and wife was in Pomona, NY. In 1993, they purchased a home in Wayne and have lived there ever since. 

When he wasn’t helping his clients do their tax returns, Sal spent leisure time working on his stamp and coin collections. He also worked on his model trains and visited various train shows in the tri-state area and beyond. Sal and Belinda also enjoyed traveling adventures to Aruba, Curacao, and Spain. 

Sal was devout in his Catholic faith. He and Belinda were regular attenders at the 9:00 AM mass at Our Lady of Consolation Church where Sal always liked to sit up front near the altar. After mass he’d always ask Belinda if she’d like to go for brunch at the Wayne Hill’s Diner, just up the street from the church. After going there for what seemed like the one-thousandth time, Belinda secretly wished to try a different eating venue but she always obliged Sal because the simple act of enjoying his company was more important than where she enjoyed his company.

Sal was a kind, gentle and generous soul. He was truly loved by his tax clients and coworkers at H&R Block. And he was loved by his dear wife Belinda to whom he was blessed with 34 years in a loving and devoted marriage.    

Sal was the beloved husband of Belinda (Bueno) Bonanno. He is also survived by his dear brother Robert of Franklin Lakes and numerous dear brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in honor of Sal’s life can be made to:

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St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Memorial Processing

501 St. Jude Place

Memphis, TN 38105-9959