Mitchell J. Salamon, 83, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 4, 2026. Born in Holyoke, MA, he was the son of the late Mitchell and Evelyn (Zebrowski) Salamon. Mitch grew up in Holyoke, graduated from Holyoke High School, and earned his associate’s degree from Holyoke Community College. A lifelong hard worker, he began working in his father’s flooring store at just 12 years old. Drafted into the U.S. Army at age 25, he underwent extensive training in 1968 across Fort Dix, Fort Polk, Fort Benning, and Fort Jackson before deploying to Vietnam. As an older recruit, he stepped directly into a combat infantry Sergeant position, commanding 30 to 60 men. For his brave service, he was decorated with the Army Combat Infantry Badge, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and a Bronze Star. He received an early honorable discharge to return home to his pregnant wife and the family business, later serving as President of Salamon Flooring Inc. and Salamon Realty LLC. He was deeply committed to his community, donating three utility vehicles to the West Springfield Fire, Police, and school departments, and was honored as the 2022 Veteran of the Year by the West Springfield Veterans Council. He had many wonderful lifelong friends from his school days, tennis and skiing adventures, and neighbors from town. Mitch was the devoted husband for 62 years to Carol A. (Frodyma) Salamon, who predeceased him in June 2026. He leaves his son, Mark Salamon and his wife Laura; his two daughters, Karen Salamon, and Susan Thibodeau and her husband Todd, all of West Springfield; and his sister, Louise Griffin. He was predeceased by his brother-in-law, Edward Griffin. Mitch was the cherished grandfather of eight adored grandchildren: Brianna, Nathan, Xan, Jacob, Beau, Kelly, and Tessa, and was predeceased by his beloved grandchild, Kyle Thibodeau. Above all else, Mitch prioritized his family, loving nothing more than being involved in their daily lives. He cherished hosting grandchildren for sleepovers and creating a vibrant summer haven at the Cape house, where days were filled with hanging out on the deck, going to the beach, playing sports in the yard, kayaking, eating his famous steak, and cracking lobsters. Mitch took great pride in keeping his home stocked with food and snacks, ensuring every guest felt entirely comfortable and welcome. He was a tireless worker, constantly tackling home projects and serving as the ultimate role model. Mitch firmly believed that everyone had to pitch in, instilling a strong shared work ethic in his children and grandchildren. Even during trips to the Cape, no one was exempt; he dedicated an entire day to annual household chores, ensuring even the youngest grandkids learned the value of maintaining the home together. Through these shared efforts and his famous "honey-do" lists, he taught his family the practical skills of being handy and the pride of a job well done. Calling hours will be held at the West Springfield Curran-Jones Funeral Home on Monday, July 13th, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Family and friends are invited to meet at St. Thomas the Apostle Church on Tuesday, July 14th, at 10:00 AM for the Funeral Mass, followed by burial in St. Thomas Cemetery. For online condolences, please visit curranjones.com.