Carnival & Fair Buzz

It is with great sadness to report the passing of Anthony Salerno, Sr., the founder of Chicago based Windy City Amusements, who passed away on Monday, February 3, 2025 at the age of 94, with his loving family by his side.

Anthony (a.k.a. Tony) was born on June 7, 1930, the son of Umberto and Margaret (Scarpelli) Salerno, and raised in Chicago in the area called the patch which is located between Grand, Chicago and Western Ave. He attended Wells High School on Chicago's Near West Side.  At the age of 17, he began working for the carnival his friends' grandfather owned which was his first taste of the amusement industry.

Tony met the love of his life, Ruth and they started their family together in Chicago.  While the children were young, he worked for the City of Chicago Forestry Department.

As the family grew and the children got a little older, he decided to get back into the amusement business.  He started out with a nickel pitch game at Chicagoland events so that his children could help.  He then traveled thoughout the Midwest with the Royal American Shows and Rod Link Shows where he met many good friends in the industry and had many fond memories of those days.  The first ride that he purchased was a Tilt-A-Whirl.  He then purchased a Loop-O-Plane and Octopus from the Dispensa family that owned the Dispensa's Kiddie Kingdom and Castle of Toys Amusement Park in OakBrook Terrace.  At that point, his dream of creating Windy City Amusements began.

In 1976, Tony and Ruth bought a farm in Geneva so that they would have more room to store the equipment and for their family to grow.

Geneva Swedish Days was one of his favorite events of the season as it was now his hometown.  Windy City Amusements has and continues to provide the carnival for Swedish Days for over 45 years.

With his wife and children by his side, he grew the business to include rides, games and food concessions.  Their children then met their spouses and had their own children who also continued to work with the family.  Tony was able to watch his family and company grow together.

As he got older and did not travel to the festival locations, he continued to work in the office booking events, paying the bills, etc.

Tony was a Member of the Geneva Masonic Lodge, Fox Valley Shrine Club, Showmens League of America and the Outdoor Amusement Business Association.

He is survived by his wife Ruth; his children Anthony Salerno Jr. of Geneva, Michael (Dawn) Salerno of Geneva, Deborah (Tom) Murray of Ohio, Mark (Cheryl) Salerno of Maple Park, and Robert Salerno of Lockport; 16 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren; 4 great great grandchildren; and sister Gemma Salerno.

He is preceded in death by his daughter Virginia Salerno, daughters-in-law Karen Salerno and Juanita Salerno, brother Gino Salerno, and his parents.

Visitation will be held Monday, February 10, 2025 from 10:00 am until the time of his funeral Service at 1:00 pm at the Malone Funeral Home, 324 East State St (Route 38) Geneva, Illinois.

Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Geneva, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, Tennessee 38105 (or donate online) would be appreciated.