Philip Edward Salmeri

Philip Edward Salmeri passed away on June 9, 2024 at the age of 77 after a valiant battle with brain cancer.  He was born on October 15, 1946, the second of four children born to Edward and Ruth Salmeri.  His family resided in Little Silver, NJ, then Phil attended The Northwood School in Lake Placid, NY for his last two years of high school where he took up skiing among other sports.   After high school, he attended MacMurry College in Illinois and continued to play a variety of sports, earning several accolades, including breaking the school record in shot put (or the world record depending on his audience and the day!). 

After college, Phil joined the Air Force and was stationed in a variety of locations to include Dover, DE where he met and married Diane Creedon.  Phil and Diane were married for 44 years and had four children that they raised in King George, VA where Phil and Diane both worked at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, VA. 

While Phil continued his full-time role in contracting, he always had a couple of side gigs going whether that was selling “Dipper Do” paper airplanes, “Dune Buggy” cars, or concessions from a personal tent at the go kart track on Sunday.  He was always an entrepreneur at heart!  His most successful entrepreneurial venture was his book, courses, and consulting on best value procurement.  This venture was so successful, he retired from the civil service to focus on building his business which thrived for over 10 years.  Meanwhile, he built an apartment duplex next to his hair salon in Dahlgren, VA and continued to manage his various businesses well into his 70’s. 

Outside of his family, one of Phil’s other loves was volleyball.  His accolades here are extensive including attendance at several national volleyball championships in senior age brackets, coaching the King George High School’s girls’ team, and facilitating the addition of sand courts at the King George Recreation Center.   However, his greatest point of pride here was watching two of his sons go on to play in college and beyond, then watch his grandchildren pick up and excel in the same sport.   Over the years, he got a lot of use out of his “Uncle Phil’s Blocking Drill” t-shirts and tanks!

Phil’s other big love was the river.  Several years ago, he finally realized his life-long dream of having a house on the river and bought a house at Horner’s Beach, a small community on the Potomac River in Montross, VA. There he enjoyed taking pictures of the sunrise each morning, crabbing, fishing, engaging with neighbors (he never met a stranger), and spending time with his son, Brandon, and his family who have the house next door.  The 4^th of July was his favorite holiday of the year because the entire family would come to the river to spend time together, eat, drink, enjoy many laughs, participate in the annual golf cart parade, and watch his famous fireworks display.

Phil had battled and beaten cancer when he was 40, undergoing a bone marrow transplant when the odds were low for survival and lived the last 37 years of his life as if he was on borrowed time.  He lived life to the fullest, always up for a good time.  He was an extreme extrovert and always enjoyed making a new friend, whether that was the person checking him out at the grocery store or the many nurses that cared for him during his cancer treatments.  Just one meeting, and you were likely to get the full life story!

He is survived by his four children, Jason Salmeri, K.C. Gallagher, Brandon Salmeri, and Nick Salmeri, his ex-wife who he remained close with, Diane Salmeri, and his three sisters, Judy Bonfiglio, Barbara Salmeri, and Kathy Nesci.  He is also survived by his loving girlfriend of two years, Kristy Nelson, who was buy his side and his rock throughout his battle with cancer until the very end.  He was affectionately known as “Popi” to his nine grandchildren who are already prepared to carry on his memory by fishing and crabbing at his cherished spot at the river.  He was also “Uncle Phil” not only to his many beloved nieces and nephews, but also many other youths, particularly in the volleyball world.

A celebration of his life will be held at the river on his favorite holiday, the 4^th of July, for close family only.  Should you choose to honor his memory, please no flowers or contributions- try to throw a fishing line in the water somewhere and raise a beer to Phil (unless it’s Miller Lite- he hated Miller Lite).   He was adamant that he didn’t want people to be sad when it was his time to go, but instead reflect on the good times and raise a glass in his memory!