Salvatore Villano, Jr.

Salvatore Villano, Jr “Sal”, age 83 passed away on August 24, 2022.  He was born November 26, 1938 in Denver, Colorado to Olive and Salvatore Villano.  Sal is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marilyn, and his 5 children, Susan (Clay), Ed, Carol (Devin), James and David.  He is preceded in death by his parents Sal and Olive, and his sister, Josephine.  Sal grew up in North Denver and attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel grade school and high school, where he drew recognition as a talented athlete.  After graduating Colorado State University with an education degree, he taught science and coached at Merrill Junior High. He married his college sweetheart, Marilyn Mooney, on June 29, 1963.

Marilyn’s father, Major General H. K. Mooney, convinced Sal to join the Air Force in 1966.  He completed Officer Training School and was commissioned as a second lieutenant.  At Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, he commanded a student  squadron, preparing airmen for duty in Vietnam, and held other positions such as systems analyst and logistics chief. After being released from active duty in 1972, he earned a Master of Science degree at George Washington University. Resuming his military career, he joined the Colorado Air National Guard, where he held key successive positions as operations officer, maintenance chief, commander of the 154th Tactical Control Group, U.S. Property & Fiscal Officer, and deputy adjutant general.

Sal attained the rank of brigadier (one-star) general and received the Eagle Award, the highest peacetime award given by the National Guard. After 31 years proudly serving his country, he retired in 1997.  In 1998, he established the Forgotten Heroes Campaign, whose mission is to seek out and honor veterans who earned but never received awards for their service and meritorious wartime deeds.

Sal loved his country, loved his family and gave freely of his time to numerous charitable organizations. He would give you the shirt off his back.  He loved to laugh and pull pranks, enjoyed activities like fishing and bowling, and especially loved the sport of baseball. His Catholic faith was extremely important to him and he loved the Lord. He was dearly loved by family and friends and will be greatly missed.

Visitation (6:30pm) and Rosary (7:00pm) will be at Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, 3549 Navajo St, Denver, CO, 80211, on 8/30/22.  Memorial service will be at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 8035 S. Quebec St., Englewood, CO 80112, on 8/31/22 at 11:00 AM. Military ceremony will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 4400 W. Kenyon Ave., Denver, CO 80236, on 9/1/2022 at 1:15pm.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Forgotten Heroes Campaign at 8039 S. Newport Court, Centennial, CO, 80112.

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