Obituary of Donald Nicholas DeSalvia

Donald DeSalvia 91, Syracuse NY passed away peacefully at home on June 10, 2025, surrounded by family. 

Born in Weehawken, New Jersey, he graduated from Tenafly High School, Tenafly, NJ and earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Rutgers University.  While at Rutgers he met and fell in love with a nursing student named Anita Welter. The two soon married and spent a lifetime together raising 5 children.

After graduating from Rutgers, Don served in the US Air Force as pilot flying the B-32 Peacemaker. Honorably discharged at the rank of Captain, Don and Anita settled in Syracuse, NY where Don attended Syracuse University to obtain his Ph D. 

Don had a long career as a faculty member, Professor and Department Chair for Syracuse University’s School of Management.  He had multitude of hobbies and interests including fishing, boating, skiing, woodcarving and watching old Westerns, but his favorite activity was spending time with his family.

Don is predeceased by his wife Anita “Mitzi” (2021), parents Nicholas and Ruth (Cushmore) and brother Robert. Don is survived by his daughter Donna Cryder, Owasso OK; sons Mark (John), Thomas (Shelley), Karl (Cheryl) and David (Carla) all in the Syracuse Area. His grandchildren Elyse (Ryan), Jalica, Sierra (Erik), Nicole, Jessica, Zachary, Jesse, Claire(Matt) and great grandchildren Jamien, Radley, Sequoia and Valerie.

A memorial service is planned for Friday June 20, 2025, at All Saints Church, 1340 Lancaster Avenue Syracuse at 3pm. For those unable to attend, the service will be live streamed via All Saints Website: www.allsaintssyracuse.org

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to My Father’s Kitchen 501 Hawley Avenue, Syracuse NY 13203.