A World War II veteran and community servant well-known throughout the Allegheny Valley has died.

Emilio “Chummy” Saldari of Springdale Township died Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. He was 99.

Saldari attended Springdale High School and was drafted to serve in World War II in 1943. He was sent to France, traveling to the Ardennes Forest and the Rhineland and fought in four major battles, including the Battle of the Bulge, according to his induction in the Allegheny Valley School District’s Hall of Fame.

When he returned home, Saldari worked at Edgewater Steel in Oakmont and the Harmar and Harwick mines. He worked as a representative for the United Mine Workers of America and served as president of Local 4426.

He also was an active volunteer with the Springdale Township Volunteer Fire Department, Little League and Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church.

“He was larger than life. He saw the good in everybody,” said his daughter, Carolyn Saldari Bengel, a district judge in Harrison.

‘Uncle Chum’

Saldari earned his nickname, “Chummy,” when he was 6, Bengel said. He had to walk to school and would say hello to every person he passed.

When he greeted people, they would respond and tell him he was “chummy,” Bengel said. And that nickname, or just “Chum,” stuck.

Saldari served in World War II and was honored with four Bronze Stars and campaign medals.

At first, Saldari never would talk about the war, but he opened up about his experiences later in life, Bengel said. He would talk to students in elementary schools and colleges about his experience and educate them about World War II.

“He told them, ‘Freedom isn’t free,’ ” Bengel said.

In 2015, Saldari and his family went to the French Embassy in Washington, D.C., where the French government honored him with the “Chevalier Award.” Saldari’s great niece, Suzie Sigler of Lower Burrell, applied for Saldari to be considered for the award.

“He enjoyed that immensely,” Sigler said.

Sigler remembered Saldari as someone who was hardworking, genuine and honest.

“He’s a strong man. He’s a man of faith and he genuinely loved his family. It was important to have his family close,” she said.

“He was the best. He was the best human being. He was how people should be.”

Because he was drafted, Saldari never had a chance to graduate high school until 2019, when he was surprised with a diploma during Allegheny Valley School District’s Hall of Fame induction.

That was an “amazing moment,” Bengel said.

“It took him 75 years to get that done,” Bengel said jokingly. “We’d tease him about that.”

Family man

Saldari loved his faith, family and country, Bengel said. The family is very tight-knit. Saldari was married to his wife, Ida, for more than 76 years.

“He loved her the same the day they got married until the day he passed away,” Bengel said.

No matter where he would go, everyone knew “Chummy,” and he would strike a smile on everyone’s face, Bengel said.

“He was also humble. He always wanted to talk about other people,” Bengel said.

“He was concerned with others more than himself. He did so much for his community, his family and his country.”

Nephew David Celko said his uncle loved his life, people and his family.

“He was always very friendly, and he appreciated life because of what he had been through. It was contagious.”

“Everybody that knew him really admired him.”

‘Icon in the community’

Celko of McMurray said Saldari always was able to lighten everyone’s spirits.

“He was an icon in the community,” Celko said.

Saldari was a lifetime member of the Allegheny Valley Volunteer Fire Department and was integral in starting the Springdale Township Volunteer Fire Department. He also had lifetime memberships at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1437, American Legion Post 593 and the Disabled American Veterans’ Allegheny-Kiski chapter.

He was an adult supervisor and bus driver for the Shamrocks Drum and Baton Corps. He also umpired and coached Little League baseball and was a Cub Scout leader. He served as an usher at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church and as Democratic Committee chairman for Springdale Township.

“He was so active. He had a personality and talked to everybody,” said Henrietta James, Saldari’s niece.

Saldari was instrumental in building the Springdale Township Volunteer Fire Department’s fire hall. He and his wife were always actively fundraising for the department, James said.

Even the firefighters would call Saldari “Uncle Chum,” she said.

But, despite his many accomplishments, Saldari was very humble, James said.

“He never wanted credit. He said everyone helped. That’s how he was,” she said.

For years each Monday, Saldari would be found at the fire hall, volunteering for bingo. As he got older, people would ask James how “Uncle Chum” was doing.

In fact, at Saldari’s request, a firetruck will be part of the funeral procession.

“He was so devoted to the fire department. That was his one request, to have the firetruck lead the funeral,” James said.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Adam Siemianowski Funeral Home in West Deer. Parting prayers will be held at 11:30 p.m. Saturday in the funeral home.

The funeral is scheduled for noon Saturday at Guardian Angels Parish, Our Lady of Victory Campus, in Springdale Township.

The ceremony is open to the public.

“With Chum, you couldn’t make it private,” Bengel said.

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