Many residents and visitors to Catalina Island will remember Ron Salo for his passion for law enforcement as well as his golf swing.
Endeared by the community in which he chose to spend his retirement years, a Celebration of Life will be held in Salo’s memory at 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 11, in the Casino Ballroom.
Salo slipped away peacefully early on Monday, Dec. 3, after a hard fought battle against the disease that required him to have kidney dialysis three days a week for almost three years.
Many residents and visitors to Catalina Island will remember Ron Salo for his passion for law enforcement as well as his golf swing.
Endeared by the community in which he chose to spend his retirement years, a Celebration of Life will be held in Salo’s memory at 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 11, in the Casino Ballroom.
Salo slipped away peacefully early on Monday, Dec. 3, after a hard fought battle against the disease that required him to have kidney dialysis three days a week for almost three years.
“I will miss my best friend and traveling companion and will always think of him in his favorite spot, soaking up the warm sun on his beloved Island home,” said Salo’s widow Linda.
Rod Muller, president of the Catalina Island Men’s Golf Club, said the club expressed its deepest sympathy in the passing of Salo, “a great guy who gave us many years of dedicated service and advice. He is missed.”
On dialysis days, Ron Salo never complained about the early morning boat trip to the mainland for treatment, always looking forward to the return trip that afternoon to his special Island home.
He was born in Whitinsville, Mass., to Oscar and Winnie Salo and lived in East Douglas, Mass., until leaving home for the Navy in 1959.
Salo was stationed on a destroyer, the U.S.S. Ingersoll, where he was a radar man.
It was during his time in the Navy that Salo developed his lifetime love of the ocean and world travel.
After being discharged in May 1963, Salo began his 33-year career with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, working out of the Norwalk station after graduation from the Academy. His law enforcement career would touch on some of the most infamous criminal cases in California history.
He went to the Special Enforcement Bureau in 1968 and during this assignment saw much of the turbulence of the times, beginning with the assassination of Bobby Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel where Salo was assigned for the evening.
Salo was also part of the team that captured Tex Watson and other members of Charlie Manson’s “Family.”
It was during these years on Labor Day weekend 1968, that Salo met his future wife Linda, who was sitting on the wall on Crescent Avenue in front of Lloyds.
A chance meeting that would lead to their marriage at Buena Vista Point in Avalon on Sept. 25, 1971 and a lifelong attachment to their beautiful Island home.
Later career moves took Salo to special investigations, organized crime and to one of his favorite assignments—Homicide, moving there after completion of his assignments at the Los Angeles Olympics of 1984.
Homicide was a challenge and when he and his partners solved a case it brought great satisfaction to know that he had done his best to speak for the victims and their families.
After seven years as a homicide detective, Salo and Linda decided it was time to move full time to Avalon.
He transferred to the Avalon Station in 1992 as a sergeant, normally working the early morning shift.
He had a great team of deputies over the years and was a mentor as well as a good friend to a great number of them.
Salo was known as “Sarge” to many in the community.
Salo was active in the community before and after his retirement, serving on the boards of the Catalina Island Medical Center, the Catalina Island Museum and the Catalina Island Men’s Golf Club. Golf became one of his passions and he played every chance he had, always chasing that lower handicap.
Salo and Linda loved to travel. They visited approximately 60 countries. Italy, especially Tuscany and Venice, was a favorite. Meeting people and making new friends were often a big part of the journey and they always found it interesting to see what the world is like away from home.
Salo is survived by Linda, son Gary (Joanne), brother Wayne (Beverly) granddaughter Savannah, grandsons Anthony (Jaycee) and Dallas and great-granddaughter Chloe Faye, niece Trudi (Adam) Wagner, great-niece Alana and great-nephews Nathaniel and Zachariah as well as nieces and nephews Richie and Lana Unatin, Tiffany, Heather, Jason, Joseph and Juliet. His favorite cousins Sandy (Jim), Kathy, Leilana and Susie who were the special “sisters” in his life. Salo is predeceased by his daughter Kelly Jean Salo whom he loved very much.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ron’s memory to the Catalina Island Museum (P.O. Box 366), Catalina Island Medical Center (P.O. Box 1563) or the Catalina Island Humane Society.
