Two weeks ago, on March 30th, our friend Sal Benanti passed away while sleeping in his house. Sal was 70 years old and he was still racing motocross every weekend during the season. As matter of the fact the following day he was expected to attend an event upstate in New York.
Our initial surprise and pain for the loss of our friend have left us now with a sense of emptiness because he was always around in our whereabouts, helping in fixing bikes or just entertaining us with his unique manners.
In memory of our beloved friend I want to write again why he became a living legend, why he was able to do what most people even forty years younger cannot do even in their dreams:
“What’s his secret? You would expect some sort of special diet, magic pills or strenuous workout. Wrong! Sal is a witty person who doesn’t like to hang out with complainers (most of people of his age) and negative people. He is not afraid to try and he does not fear failure because even that it’s part of the game. He would tell you to live your present and not to worry about the future: deal with that when it comes.
Sal would tell your that whatever it is your age start the engine and just …do it.”
Rest In Peace Our Friend
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17 comments:
I'm sorry to hear about your friend Alex. At least he lived life to the maximum.
Remember when we followed him around Brooklyn blowing the horn every time he touched the brakes?
No, at this moment I do not recall this one .... ? I still believe that the best one was organized by Rob Lombardi and Joe Uricchio with the Maxim tires on sale at a ridiculously low price, or when we had the guy from the radio making a prank call about his RV parked in front his house lowering the value of the real estate on the block: it did not take too long for Sal to ask the guy to meet him at the avenue for a clarification from man to man!!!!
Anyhow, please post the comment with your name, it can help others to recall events or situations.
thanks,
Sal was a warm hearted soft spoken man he touched everyone's life who new him. He will be surely missed by all.
Tom
YOU KNEW HIM IN THE AUTUMN YEARS.
WE REMEMBER HIM IN HIS SALAD DAYS. HIS NICKNAME WAS "HUD" WE WILL ALL MISS HIM.
JOHN ELLENA.
Hello Alex, so sorry to read about your friend. As the saying goes, life is for the living, and he seemed to live life and not just exist.
Hope to see you at the track this summer.
Best wishes,
johng
thank you for the comments ... Even though other posts will move this one away in the long run, we have created a permanent link in memory of Sal on the ride side of the home page. Let's keep honor our friend writing more comments
Hi Alex,
Thanks for the Blog to use in Sal's honor. Sal and the other Boys of Bensonhurst go back 55 to 60 years. Sal was a Man for all seasons. While we were entering the Winter of our lives, he was still in the Spring of his life. He was one of a kind. A kind and Gentle man, who will be missed by all his Family and Friends.He's gone on to join other Guys from 69th & 18th Ave, Jimmy Amato, & Jimmy Fauci.
From
Frank J. FL AMR
Patty F. Dallas, AMR
Tony M (Tony Rags) NJ
Paul Sarpi ( Gold Finger) NJ
Bobby P (ABC) B'klym
John Ellena (Esq) Calif.
I met Sal for the first time only last summer trough the PMP crew. Great guy, easy to hang out and always available to help you. He will be certainly missed by everybody.
Antonio Pacuku
Sal Benanti was the wisest, strongest, bravest man I have ever known. I am proud to call him my father. He will always be my HERO!
From his daughter Karen.
One day in 1988, I was washing my dirt in front of my shop on 18th ave. Some old guy came over to me and asked “do you know how to ride that thing"? That was the beginning of my friendship with Sal, and his introduction to the crew. For almost 20 years I have seen Sal almost every day and worked on something or done something together. I was the fuel that got him started with Joe or Alex on some meaningless debate about politics or some thing about beating Joe in a dirt bike race. These things went on for hours, days and sometimes weeks. We had so much fun together. Like the wind Sal would come and go all day. I still expect him to walk in and help me with something I am working on, or come for a ride some ware... It is starting to sink in that he is not coming. I still don’t believe he is gone. I loved "the old man" and miss him terribly. Rob Lombardi
next year, for Sal's anniversary I am planning to raise some money among his friend and family to be given to his beloved motocross organization ACE. These are the guys that dedicated a race weekend to him in occasion of his 70th birthday. I am sure that we should be able to obtain something similar. I am asking all of you to email me your name and phone at aletalian2000@yahoo.com
thank you,
First time I met Sal was last year throgh Rob and Alex at the Shop first impresion wow what a Guy he was always ready to help you with anithing, Wat a Man you dont se People like that Everyday
Rest in Peace old Man
you will be missed by everyone
Naim.
On Sunday, April 29, they had a beautiful memorial service for my father at Diamond back motocross. They gave a great plaque with his picture on it to all the high finishers for that day. I knew my dad was special but it was unbelievable to see how many peoples lives he touched and that they had so many great things to say about him. It was a great day in his honor. Karen
To all of you: next year I am going to organize a fundraising for SAL. The proceeds could be given to the ACE motocross club that has organized the last event and the other one for the 70th birthday in his honor: these guys could have a weekend dedicated to Sal for his anniversay.
I need all of you to email me your address to aletalian2000@yahoo.com
Sleeping, in a quiet and peaceful restfulness, Sal suddenly left for ever all his friends in a sense of desolation. I met Sal in my house for a wonderful diner along with his friends Alessandro and Joe.
I will pray for you ... rest in peace.
Diana Trapani,
I really feel like I missed out for not knowing Sal. Iseemed to be an honor. I do know the people who loved him. He must have been an amazing person with a heart of gold. I am truley sorry for everyones loss. Keep alive his memory with loving thoughts of the experiances you had with him. May angels on motorcycles see thee to thy rest
in love and light,
Krys
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