Salvadore "Sal" Petrillo

Salvadore "Sal" Petrillo was the late husband of Sophia Petrillo. He is seen only in flashback sequences or as apparitions. He was born sometime in the 1880s or 1890s and passed away from natural causes sometime between 1963 and 1974. He was portrayed by Sid Melton. A younger version of Sal was portrayed by Kyle T. Heffner in Clinton Avenue Memoirs. He looked forward to visits from his grandchildren, Michael and Kate Zbornak, his daughter Dorothy's children, as stated once in One for the Money.

Life
Salvadore's early life is unknown. His marriage to Sophia was while they were still in Sicily ether when she was bargaining in a dark alley, or when she stood on a rock during a village event when they matched couples by height.

Despite this, Sal and Sophia's marriage was typical. In the 1920s they moved to Brooklyn, where they lived in the same apartment for 30 years. During the first year he tried to leave after a fight, but when he couldn't find a cab, Sophia treated him to Veal Parmesan; he said the meal was like their relationship, and they stayed together.

They had three children: Dorothy, Phil, and Gloria. Dorothy was always Sal's special girl; he would take her to the zoo (his nickname for the racetrack). Even during The Great Depression, both he and Sophia held down jobs and always managed to feed their children; Sal was working while Dorothy had her tonsillectomy.

Sal told Dorothy that she had to marry Stan when he got her pregnant, but both he and Sophia were happy to be grandparents and loved their grandchildren.

Sal's date of and age at death are unknown, but he might have died of either an illness or stress from his gambling habit. According to Sophia, his last words were "10 bucks says I don't need this oxygen tank."

Personality
Sal was a average man, but he could be sharp-tongued like Sophia and they did argue over things; other times he could be romantic. In a flashback the couple's car is being repaired and Sophia's father complains about Sal and Sophia says he has his moments; when Sophia's father goes to the restroom, Sal reveals that he has Sophia's favorite chocolates. In another, after Sal reveals Sophia's true age and they fight, Sal ends it by telling her that she is always beautiful to him.

It's clear that Sal and Sophia had a healthy sex life; when Dorothy and Sophia share a bed, Dorothy's elbow reminds Sophia of Sal. When Sophia got annoyed at the time dinner guests took, she reveals that in half the time Sal could eat, read the paper, make love, and do his nails without leaving the table. Sophia admitted that Sal did things without telling her: for example, she couldn't remember conceiving Phil; and while she was carrying him Sal nearly cheated on her, but he found the woman birdlike and annoying and decided he preferred his wife.



Appearances

 * A Piece of Cake (9 May 1987)
 * One for the Money (26 September 1987)
 * Mother's Day (7 May 1988)
 * Sophia's Wedding: Part 1 (19 November 1988)
 * Valentine's Day (11 February 1989)
 * Clinton Avenue Memoirs (3 February 1990)
 * What a Difference a Date Makes (23 March 1991)
 * Room Seven (23 November 1991)

Salvadore Petrillo