City of Geneva Ward 6 Councilor John Salone passed away suddenly on Thursday, August 11.
The city released the following statement on Friday, August 12:
“It is with a very heavy heart that we announce that on Thursday, August 11, city council member and fellow Genevan John Salone died unexpectedly.
John served as city councilor for Ward 6, being sworn in February of 2022. Many of his colleagues spoke about how glad they were of his addition to the council, citing his experience and dedication as welcome arrivals in a difficult time. In an interview with the Finger Lakes Times shortly after being sworn in, John said he only wanted what was best for Geneva. “I vote by issue, not by party,” he said.
John cared deeply about Geneva and its 6th Ward, advocating for quality housing conditions and food access, expressing the necessity of a small-scale grocery store within the Ward 6 area, a project he worked tirelessly on.
John was a Geneva native, graduating from DeSales High School and served as the Mayor of nearby Lyons and was the Director of the Lyons Community Center before returning to Geneva where he took care of his mother and served as General Manager for the Geneva Red Wings, a position he took great pride in and dedicated much time and effort to.
Thank you to our Police and Fire teams who responded to the call and assisted John and his family throughout this tragic event. In honor of John, the flags at city hall and other city buildings will be lowered to half-staff.
John will be deeply missed by all of his city colleagues and the Geneva community; our thoughts are with him and his family at this time.”
Original story: Geneva City Councilor John Salone passes away unexpectedly
The City of Geneva was stunned to learn of the sudden passing of Ward 6 Councilor John Salone on Thursday.
Salone was also the longtime general manager for the Geneva Red Wings.
“John was a staple in the Geneva community, and his compassion for the sport, the team, and McDonough Park remain unmatched. We extend our deepest condolences to John’s friends, family, and loved ones,” said the team in a Facebook post.
A Geneva native, Salone moved backed to his hometown after living in Lyons for years.
He served as the Mayor of Lyons from 1997 to 2001 and was director of the Lyons Community Center.
Salone was serving his first term on the Geneva City Council at the time of his death.
He was elected to fill the vacant Ward 6 councilor seat at the council’s February 2, 2022 meeting.
