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NORWALK, Conn. Canio "Kelly" LaSalva of Norwalk died July 4. He was 85.
Born Feb. 23, 1927, in New York City, he was the son of Rosario and Maria LoRusso LaSelva. Raised in Pelham, N.Y., LaSalva attended Hutchinson School and Pelham Memorial High School. Many of his student artworks were displayed at the high school.
LaSalva was a World War II veteran, serving in the Navy. He was also a veteran of the Korean War and was stationed in Pensacola, Fla., where he lived with his wife, Theresa, on the base.
He was a member of Carpenters Local 210 and was known to family for his quiet nature. An artist, he was a former member of the Silvermine Guild of Artists in New Canaan and was on the Silvermine Chamber music committee for four years.
LaSalva exhibited throughout Fairfield County and was in the emerging artist show at Madison Square Garden in New York City in 1982. He won over 32 awards for his artwork.
He was a Silvermine artist mentor for the third through fifth grades at Rogers Magnet School in Stamford for four years. LaSalva also worked as a special education paraprofessional at Bedford Elementary and Middle School in Westport.
He is survived by a daughter, Marcella LaSalva Mastronardi; two sisters, Angelina Scarano, of Pelham, and Marie Chin, of Ridgefield; a brother, Rosario "Ross" LaSelva, of Bethel, Conn.; two sisters-in-law and two granddaughters. LaSalva was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Theresa Christiana LaSalva; four brothers, Leo, Vincent, Carmen and Vito; and two sisters, Anna Marie Gaita and Lucy LaSelva.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Philip Church in Norwalk. Burial with full military honors will follow at St. John Cemetery in Norwalk. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Magner Funeral Home in Norwalk.
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