Sal is a California native, born in downtown Los Angeles in 1951. He and his wife, Becky, both attended Garfield High School in East Los Angeles. They married in 1973 and have three grown children; Mario, AnaMaria, and Mark. All three children moved to Oahu and married Hawaii-born spouses who love Jesus. 

Sal graduated in 1975 from Cal Poly University, Pomona, majoring in Electronic Engineering Technology. The Lord intervened in the next four years and moved to prepare Sal for a career he never wanted: High School Mathematics. Thirty of Sal’s thirty-three years as an educator were in inner-city high schools. He taught all levels of math, from remedial to Advanced Placement Calculus AB and BC. Twenty-five of those years were at Roosevelt High in the Boyle Heights community of East Los Angeles. Midway Sal was invited to teach at UCLA for a year. Sal was blessed to teach full-time at UCLA from 1996 to 1997, where he taught the Freshman Precalculus Course. Not long after returning to Roosevelt High, The Lord moved him to sponsor the school Bible Club from 2000 to 2012. 

After retiring in 2012, Sal and Becky moved to Oahu in 2014 to be near their three children and their families. Sal has enjoyed spending more time with Becky. They love walks in their Kaneohe neighborhood and some local hikes near them. They also enjoy having their nine grandchildren come and visit on a regular basis.

Since becoming an Elder, Sal has enjoyed teaching the Foundation Course at both the Windward and Kaka’ako Campuses. He and Becky are also members of the Prayer Team and regularly participate in the Kaka’ako Prayer walks.

Favorite bible verse: (Phil 2:12-13; NLT). 12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.