Remembering Randy Salerno

Saying Goodbye To CBS 2's Randy Salerno

CRYSTAL LAKE (CBS) ― Laughter mixed with tears Wednesday as family, friends and co-workers said goodbye to our friend and colleague, CBS 2 anchor Randy Salerno.

His funeral was held in the community Salerno called home, suburban Crystal Lake. CBS 2's Jim Williams offers a glimpse of the service that showed the outpouring of love and friendship for a man who lived life to the fullest.

The mourners came to Immanuel Lutheran Church from different places, Randy Salerno's neighbors in Crystal Lake, colleagues from CBS 2 and competitors from other stations. 

 Watch the entire funeral service for Randy Salerno here.

NBC 5's Dick Johnson called Salerno a class act.

"I represent a lot of people at my place who would like to be here to say the same thing," he said.

Accompanied by a single bag pipe playing Danny Boy, Salerno's coffin was brought into the small church where he was baptized as a boy.

There were so many mourners the gym next door showed the service on a big screen.

Salerno's childhood friend Tony Peters said the service should reflect Salerno's wishes.

"I believe he'd say something like keep it real and keep it light," Peters said.

There were many light moments, like the story of Salerno's one attempt to play high school football.

"He made it into the team picture in full uniform and unfortunately was injured in practice… I think he tripped over one of the chalk lines on the field," Peters said.

CBS 2 President Joe Ahern said the station has heard from the many charities Salerno helped.

"Most were not the big name ones... they were the little ones that needed help the most," Ahern said. "And they turned to a big guy and Randy would always be there for them."

"Beyond the credentials and the experience was that special something that touched all of us. Underneath the wit, the irreverent sarcasm and that wonderful sense of humor was a real humanity," Ahern said. "Randy was Randy. He loved his family, his kids, his friends. He loved coaching little league and basketball. And oh boy, did he love Crystal Lake. He loved his high school, his teams, the Cubs, and he made no apologies. There wasn't anything complicated about that. He was the real deal."

Salerno's sister Maureen Kopec said he was so grateful for his family.

"Randy was so proud of Haley, Sloan and Charlie," she said. "Randy once told me after he married Irene that he had everything he wanted. What a blessing to be so happy and so in tune."

The last word went to Salerno's wife, Irene, who told the mourners she and Randy had many wonderful memories and she only wishes they could have had more.

"Randy was my soul mate and I can honestly say in our 12 years together that love only grew," she said. "Not a day went by without him telling me how lucky he was and how much he loved me and the children."

"He was the one who played hide and go seek, made home movies with the kids, anything to spend time with them," she said. "All he wanted was to see the children when they came home from school at 4 o'clock. In fact, if they had a play date scheduled, he would get upset because he wouldn't see them until it was almost time for him to go to bed. He was at every sporting event, coached every team, even in the evening knowing he would be missing out on sleep. Randy was all about family."

It was a morning of many laughs and many tears, and wishes for Salerno's family.

"My thoughts are with his family and those children," said CBS 2's Mike Flannery. "I want them to know what a wonderful man their dad was."

Randy was 45 years old and celebrated a birthday just prior to his death. He died in a snowmobile crash last week. His friend Scott Hirschey was driving that snowmobile. Authorities on Wednesday revealed Hirschey's blood alcohol level was almost three times the legal limit.

Salerno has been with CBS 2 since September 2004. Prior to working at CBS 2, he worked at WGN-TV (1993-2004), as anchor of the midday newscast. Co-anchor Roseanne Tellez worked with Salerno for 16 years, both here at CBS and at WGN.

Donations in Randy's memory can be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association at 430 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 603, Chicago, IL 60611. Identify Randy Salerno in the memo section of the check. All donations made in support of Randy will benefit Duchenne Research.

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