Benny P. Saltivan Jr.

Benny P. Saltivan, Jr. born Jan. 7, 1947, passed away of natural causes on Wednesday, Feb. 24. 2021 at the age of 74. He was born in Camuy, Puerto Rico to parents, Benny and Aida, and was raised, along with his younger sister Eva, mostly in California but also in Puerto Rico, Maryland, Guam and Florida. After high school, he served in the Air Force in Vietnam where he would meet the love of his life, Mai. Benny enjoyed sports, particularly baseball and football, as well as bowling. All who knew him became aware of his diverse musical tastes and of his enjoyment of all foods from all cultures, and just food in general! In fact, after Mai’s first home-cooked meal for him, he knew she was the one he wanted to marry. During his courtship of Mai, he repeatedly visited her at her workplace, and after seven different times of proposals, and as soon as she accepted, he took out a ring out from his pocket and immediately put it on her finger. They wed on May 25, 1970. After his military service, he returned to the States and started a family, having had three children: Raymond, Julie, and Christine Ann (Tina). In his civilian life, Benny worked as an insurance claims adjuster, as a warehouseman with Fleming Foods, and as a letter carrier with the United States Postal Service, all while having earned his BA from Cal State Hayward (now California State University, East Bay). He accomplished this while continuing to be husband and father and while serving as an Air Force Reservist for thirty-three years. Including his five years of active service, he served a total of thirty-eight years. As a reservist, Benny earned the highest enlisted rank of Chief Master Sergeant and retired in 2013. Preceded in death by parents, Benny, Sr. and Aida, brother, Billy Joe, and daughter Tina. He is survived by his wife, Mai; his son, Raymond; his daughter, Julie; his grandsons, Matthew and Michael; his sister, Eva; his brother-in-law, Tim; his niece, Alicia; and his nephew, Joshua. On Wednesday March 3, 2021, visitation will be held at the Fremont Chapel of the Roses, 1940 Peralta Boulevard, Fremont, 94536. Public visitation will be from 5pm – 8pm, with a Vigil Service at 6:30pm. Please keep the below in mind with respect to Fremont Chapel of the Roses’ COVID-19 Protocol and visit the chapel’s website https://www.fremontchapeloftheroses.com/ for additional information. “We are urging families to adhere to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) guidelines of limiting gatherings to 50 or fewer individuals. To promote the safety and well-being of all of our customers, visitors, and funeral home personnel will be discouraged from handshaking and any unnecessary physical contact to minimize the potential transmission of germs and viruses until the pandemic conditions are under control.” Funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, March 4, 2021 at 10:30am at St. Edwards Catholic Church, 5788 Thornton Ave, Newark, 94560. A limit of 100 attendees will be permitted onsite; others will need to remain safely in their vehicles. Please visit St. Edwards Catholic Church website http://www.stedwardcatholic.com/ for additional COVID-19 protocol information. Following the service, the procession will escort Benny to his resting place with Military Honors at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 26320 Mission Boulevard, Hayward, 94544 12pm-12:15pm. A maximum number of 50 guests will be permitted onsite; others will need to remain in their vehicles. Specific questions regarding the site’s COVID-19 protocols can be addressed by calling 510-537-6600. For visitation, church, and internment services, face masks are required, and for all services, the family encourages guests to dress comfortably and optionally in blue/navy blue.

Benny P. Saltivan Jr.

January 7, 1947 - February 24, 2021