12/15/2023
Hello everyone — Dave here. It’s with a heavy heart that I write this post. Salvatore “Sal” Borregine passed away this week at the age of 91 years old. With his passing, I’m grieving the loss of a father-in-law, a friend, and a mentor who set an example of how to conduct oneself in raising a family, running a business, and treating everyone as he himself would like to be treated.
This past week I’ve been reminiscing about the early years of working with Sal. When I first started out at the fish store, I had the privilege of getting to know Sal and learn about his childhood and young adulthood. Sal grew up on the northside and worked in his father’s seafood store on Salina Street. When he was 20 years old, Sal joined the Air Force and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan as an airplane mechanic in a Tow Target Squadron. Upon coming back from his service, Sal wanted to start his own fish store like his father before him.
Hearing these stories and working side-by-side with him for 8 years, I learned from him that hard work and dedication can lead one to achieving their goals. Over the past 35 years it’s been my privilege to continue the business that Sal put his heart and soul into and to run it as close to the original store that he built back in 1957. Many former employees still come into the fish store and share with me their fond memories of working for Sal. Even after his retirement, Sal and I still stayed very close. I got to watch him enjoy his hobby of building and flying model RC airplanes.
A few weeks ago, our family had also lost Josephine “Josie” Borregine: my mother-in-law and Sal’s wife of 65 years. They were wonderful grandparents to my son and to their other grandchildren. I have some comfort knowing they are now forever joined in eternity. Many of you just know Sal as the man who took your food order. I was fortunate to be a part of his life and become a better person because of him.
