Salvatore Philip Torrisi, Sr.

Salvatore Philip Torrisi, Sr. (Sal), 89, passed away peacefully on September 10, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Florida. He was born on August 5, 1937, in Newark, New Jersey, to Joseph and Concetta Torrisi.

Sal was raised in Newark in a very loving home with his parents, older brother Al, and younger sister Phyllis. After graduating from Newark College of Engineering as a Chemical Engineer in 1959, Sal began his first job at American Cyanamid in Bound Brook, NJ.

Shortly thereafter, he met the love of his life, Cecilia. They were married, and together they built a wonderful life centered around faith, family and community. They settled in New Jersey as he switched jobs, starting a 30+ year career as a civilian with the Department of the Army, initially working at Picatinny Arsenal in Dover, NJ. They had two children, Sal Jr. and Debbie, and bought their first home in Budd Lake, NJ, and spent much time visiting with family throughout NJ with every opportunity.

After 10 years, career opportunity moved them to Bel Air, Maryland, where Sal worked at Edgewood Arsenal for the remainder of his career. They raised their children there and were very active in St. Margaret’s Catholic Church for nearly three decades. Their passion for community was evident, and they spent long hours helping to run the First Friday Senior’s program at church. Sal was also a long-time eucharistic minister there. Gardening was one of Sal’s favorite hobbies, and many family meals contained fresh or canned vegetables from the garden.

Sal’s job took him all around the country, working for the US Toxic and Hazardous Materials Agency, where he retired as a Director in 1992. One of the projects he worked on took him to West Palm Beach, Florida, where he and Cecilia decided to build a home in Wellington for future retirement. They enjoyed being “snowbirds” for a couple of decades, dividing time between Maryland, Florida and as always, family in New Jersey. It was also during this period that they spent as much time as possible enjoying their kids and grandchildren, while helping their aging parents as well.

They finally made the jump to full-time Florida living in 2016 where they were both very active with their church community of St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Wellington. Sal remained very active at St. Rita’s and enjoyed being eucharistic minister and delivered food weekly for the Homeless Ministry.

Sal was first and foremost a family man. He was an intensely devoted husband, father, grandfather, son and mentor. He loved his family immensely and took every opportunity to share in the milestones in their lives, even if it took hours of driving or flying to be there for a celebration.

The last several years have been challenging, as Sal’s Parkinson’s disease progressed and limited his abilities and activities. Parkinson’s never diminished his spirit or attitude, and he always thanked God for the Blessed life he had been given. He loved going to church, singing and visiting with family and friends, and would frequently hum tunes that caught his ear.

Sal was preceded in death by his sister Phyllis Caprio. He leaves behind his wife of 65 years, Cecilia, son Sal Torrisi Jr. (Denise), daughter Debbie Barbet (Rico), grandsons Paul Torrisi (Hannah Thomas-Hollands) and Chris Torrisi and granddaughters Brittany Barbet (Tom Sherman) and Brianna Barbet.

A visitation will be held at Palms West Funeral Home on Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 4:30-7:30 pm. A funeral mass will be held at St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Wellington on Friday, September 18, 2026 at 11:00 am, followed by burial at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery at 12:15 pm.

A Celebration of Life will be planned in the future in New Jersey for those family and friends not able to attend the funeral in Florida.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to any of the following 3 organizations with links provided:

• UHealth (University of Miami Health System) – Parkinson’s Disease and Related Disorders Research Donation · University of Miami UHealth · GiveCampus
• Catholic Charities – Diocese of West Palm Beach. Home : Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach, Inc.
• TrustBridge Hospice - Donate Now | Trustbridge Hospice Care. Extraordinary Comfort Measures designation