Obituaries
Obituary for Salvatore "Sal" A. Pisano
PEORIA - Salvatore “Sal” Pisano, former Police Chief, age 84, of Peoria, died at 8:00 pm on February 20, 2016 at OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home.
Sal was born on May 15, 1931, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to the late Thomas and Millie (Ionadi) Pisano. He moved to Peoria with his family at the age of six. He married Bernardine Marme on Sept. 3, 1955, in Peoria. She passed away on Apr. 14, 2010, in Peoria.
He was also preceded in death by his parents, his brother Joe Pisano, sister Mary Sharp and daughter, Sallie Ann Pisano.
He is survived by two sons, Tony (Ginny) of Germantown Hills and Dominic (Noelle Natale Pisano) of Dunlap; one daughter, Annette (Jon) Gisi of Custer, SD, three grandsons, Michael (Kahla Abney) of Peoria, Mario (Jessica) of Cleveland, and Nicholas Pisano of Indianapolis; one granddaughter, Nicole (Tom) Elder of Tampa, FL.; two step-grandchildren, Michael and Anthony Natale of Dunlap. One great-grandchild, Vivian Kae Pisano of Peoria and twin great-grandchildren expected this summer to Tom and Nicole Elder. Also surviving is his brother, Nick of Washington, IL along with many nieces and nephews.
Sal attended Peoria parochial grade and high schools.
In 1950, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served for three years during the Korean War and was honorably discharged as a sergeant first class.
In February 1954, Sal joined the Peoria Police Department, where he served for 32 years. He began his career as a patrolman, attaining the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant, and captain and was the first deputy chief of police of the Peoria Police Department. In 1980, he was appointed chief of police.
He attended the U.S. Secret Service Dignitary Protection School in Washington, D.C. He attended many training seminars and special courses, and was a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy, Northwestern Traffic Institute and the Senior Management Institute for Police, conducted by the Police Executive Research Forum.
Pisano served as an officer in the Peoria Police Benevolent Association, holding many offices including president of the association for seven years. He also served as state officer in the Policemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association of Illinois and was director of youth camps for many years, sending needy boys and girls to summer camp. He held other offices in the association, including being elected for four terms as president. During his services with the association, he was also legislative chairman and assisted in drafting and passing legislation creating “The Illinois Law Enforcement Training Act,” which called for mandatory training for all law enforcement officers and was signed into law by Governor Otto Kerner. He was later appointed to the board, where he was the first police officer from Peoria and the Tri-County areas to serve as chairman of the board. During this time he was very instrumental in establishing I.C.C. as a Regional Training Facility. He also was responsible for establishing the Peoria County Jail as a regional training facility.
During his career in law enforcement, Pisano received many honors and awards. In 1958, he was honored and named Policeman of the Year and also received the American Legion Award for outstanding service. He received a commendation from Mayor Richard Newmiller and Mayor Richard Carver and the Peoria City Council for bravery. The Director of the F.B.I., John Edgar Hoover, honored him for his assistance and bravery in apprehending a suspect during a Peoria area bank robbery.
During his tenure as chief of the Peoria Police Department, he and the department were honored by John R. Simpson, Director of the U.S. Secret Service. This was the first in history of the Peoria Police Department.
Sal was also honored by the Chicago Policemen’s Annuity and Benefit Fund for his role in establishing legislation to support families of officers killed in the line of duty. He was honored by Superintendent Fred Rice of the Chicago Police Department and other police departments in the state and by three governors of the Sate of Illinois including Governor Thompson, Governor Oglesby and Governor Walker for distinguished service to the people of the State of Illinois. He also was honored by the Peoria County Chiefs of Police Association, Peoria Police Department and the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Board.
Upon his retirement, Governor James Thompson appointed Pisano to the Illinois Parole and Pardon Board, where he became the first police officer from the Tri-County area to be appointed and serve as a member of that board.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Spalding Council #427, Third Degree and Fourth Degree Spalding Assembly #206. He was also a member of Alhambra, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and its Men’s Club, the Policemen’s Benevolent and Protective Assn. of Ill. and Peoria Police Benevolent Assn.
Sal was an avid golfer for many years whose personal approach to the game and competition with team-mates and adversaries often included eloquent verbal expressions in victory and defeat. Sal’s unique use of the English language will be the source of many 19th hole conversations for many years to come.
Sal was an employee and fixture at the Peoria Park District Golf Learning Center where he “ran the place” and held court for nearly twenty years. The family would like to thank all the leadership at the Park District, management staff, and employees who gave him so many years of enjoyment and purpose. It truly was a blessing.
Thanks to his brethren police officers, the Peoria Police Benevolent Association, all of the men and women he served with and led, who over the years and especially in his last days showed him so much respect and love as they continued to support him with their prayers and personal visits.
In addition, sincere thanks and gratitude to the entire staff at Richard L Owens Hospice Home for their patience, love, and compassionate care given to Sal and our family over the past four months.
A funeral Mass will be at 10:30 AM on Thursday February 25, 2016, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Fr. James Pallardy will officiate. Visitation will be from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM Wednesday February 24, 2016, at St. Vincent de Paul. An additional visitation will be one hour prior to the Mass. Entombment will be in Resurrection Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers memorials in Sal’s memory may be made to OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home or the Msgr. Robert C. Livingston Scholarship Fund at Peoria Notre Dame.
Friends may sign the online guestbook or send private condolences by logging onto www.wrightandsalmon.com.
Previous Events
Visitation
Wednesday
24
Feb
4:00 PM
- 8:00 PM
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
6001 N University St
Peoria, IL 61614
Visitation
Thursday
25
Feb
9:30 AM
- 10:30 AM
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
6001 N University St
Peoria, IL 61614
Funeral Service
Thursday
25
Feb
10:30 AM
- 11:30 AM
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
6001 N University St
Peoria, IL 61614
Cemetery Details
Location
Resurrection Cemetery & Mausoleum
7519 N Allen Rd
Peoria, IL 61614
Memorial Contribution
Msgr. Robert C. Livingston Scholarship
OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home
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