Donald Salk, 94, of Cranston, Rhode Island, passed away on Saturday, May 10, 2025. He was the devoted husband of Beverly (Gilman) Salk, with whom he shared nearly 74 years of marriage.
Donald was the son of the late Louis and Belle (Feingold) Salk. He was born in Providence and resided in Cranston since 1951. Donald attended the University of Rhode Island and the RCA Institute in New York City. He served as Chief Electrical Engineer at G.T. Scheldahl, where he received a U.S. patent for one of his many electro-mechanical designs. Later, he founded and operated Delta Plastics and subsequently took over Salk’s Hardware, the family business, after his father’s passing. In his later years, he was a familiar presence at the Cranston Senior Center.
Donald was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving in the Air Force in Tripoli and North Africa, where he was responsible for establishing radio installations. An avid HAM radio operator in his early years, he used the call sign W1ZQN, transmitting from Tripoli during his military service and later from Cranston. He was involved in his community, serving as President of the Cranston Rotary Club, where he was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow, and was active in Rotary International. He also served as President of the Cranston J.C. Organization. Donald was the last surviving member of the “Tripoli Trotters Association,” a group of lifelong friends who served together in Tripoli, holding monthly “board“ meetings consisting of poker, beer, and pizza at midnight, along with publishing a newsletter to keep up on the life events of each other’s families.
He was a devoted father to Michelle Sammartino of Warwick, Lori Cassin and her husband Damian of Galloway, New Jersey, and Alan Salk and his wife Laurie of Cranston. He was the dear brother of Judith Fuchs of Boynton Beach, Florida, and Harriet Simon of Stamford, Connecticut, and the late Norton Salk. He was the loving grandfather of Daniel, Michael, Nicholas, Erica, Julius, Laurel, and Augie, and the cherished great-grandfather of Maya, Henry, Luca, Sadie, and Theo.
Funeral services and shiva will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the charity of one’s choice. Online condolences may be offered at ShalomMemorialChapel.com.
