ERNESTO "ERNIE" SALAZAR

ERNESTO SALAZAR
“ERNIE”
JANUARY 24, 1938 – MARCH 31, 2025
It is with great sadness that the family of Ernesto “Ernie” Salazar, 87, announces his
passing after a long illness caused by his urinary bladder cancer.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Domingo (Ka Inggo) Abiog Salazar and
Sebastiana (Ka Tinay) Tamundong, two older brothers Kuya Juanito and Santos (Dikong
Sonny), an elder sister, Aurora (Ate Auring) Lanuza and younger sister, Corazon (Cora)
Elago.
Born in Punta, Santa Ana, Manila, Philippines, where he received his elementary and
high school education, Ernie immigrated to Guam, USA in 1957.
He was first married to Angelita Carbonel in 1962. Their union blessed them a son,
Marvin and a daughter, Marissa. Angelita divorced Ernie in 1970.
Ernie met a lovely single lady from Mandaluyong, Rosalie Salegumba, who was raising a
young daughter. They had a son they named Elmer. Ernie was very fond of his son
growing up. However, Ernie lost communications with Rosalie, but in September 2019,
he reconnected with Rosalie’
s family through his son, Elmer. Rosalie passed away in
April 2023.
He married Marillie Sahagun, also from Guam in 1974. They had 2 daughters, Marti
Leigh and Marlo Kim. Ernie adopted Marillie’s children, Janice Stefanko, Jeffrey and John
Perez. Ernie divorced Marillie in 1981.
His third marriage in February 1985 to Maria Patricia Regala whom he also met in Guam
lasted 32 years. Unfortunately, their long union was not blessed with any offsprings.
Maria passed away in October 2017.
Kuya Ernie hated being alone and he would not last without company. He decided to
pursue and marry Jennifer De Guzman in February 2020. Jen is a very patient partner
and Ernie was happy. Jen was on his side until his death.
Ernie’s Early Years and What Shaped His Future:
Ernie lost his father at a very young age of 9. Of the five siblings, he is second to the
youngest. He contributed to whatever he could to the family’
s finances. He worked as a
“balut” vendor, a bus conductor, and his Dikong Sonny, having a connection as the Head
Bouncer at the famous Santa Ana Cabaret, got him a job as a janitor at the Cabaret.
During Ernie’
s High School days, he trained as a good guard/forward basketball player.
This skill would open up great opportunities in his career. After high school graduation
at the Santa Ana Foundation College, he was selected to be part of a basketball squad
that was sent to Guam. While playing in the basketball leagues in Guam, he made a lot
of friends and connections in the Tourism and Airline industries. Eventually, he was hired as a Passenger Service Agent with Pan-American World Airways (Pan-Am) where his hard work
made him an outstanding employee. He was even awarded the prestigious Pan-Am Worldwide Passenger Service Award.A reorganization at Pan-Am in 1981 offered him a slot
which he took to the San Francisco Pan-Am office. In another Pan-Am reorganization in 1988,
Ernie was transferred to the Miami office where he stayed until his retirement in 1993
after 24 years of service.
His Children and Grandchildren (He was blessed with 15 grandchildren):
Marvin is unmarried.
Marissa & Allen (Amir) Tavakoli
1. Donald
2. Parissa & Mick Distasio
3. Bijan Tavakoli

Elmer S. Jose & Fiel Angela Jose
1. Alexia Angela Jose

Marti Leigh & Jeffrey Sanchez
1. JEFFREY Sanchez & Savannah Garrido
2. MAREESA & Nicholas Manfredi
3. MIYAH Leigh Sanchez & Sean Guarin
4. MISSY Jae Sanchez & Graynold Grande
5. JADEN Miles Sanchez
6. MILEY Kris Sanchez

Marlo Kim Salas
1. Christian Jose
2. Krystal Angelica
3. Katrina Ayana
4. Nicole Kyrie
5. Evan Connor Chin
Ernie was an active member of the Church of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo), Ecclesiastical
District of the Caribbean.
He was an avid fisherman, loved deep-sea fishing and a great arborist. He planted
several fruit trees around the surrounding fences of the Church’s property located at
2000 NW 103rd Street, Miami, Florida 33147.
Ernie planted and nurtured the trees to their full growth like the jackfruits, coconut
trees, guavas, mangoes, cashews, moringa (malunggay). He also took care of the regular
clean-up of the area, painstakingly hauling the debris to the dumpsite with his popular
green truck.
Ernie took great pride being surrounded by his circle of trusted friends like Cesar Ponce,
Johnny Policarpio, Felipe ‘Jun” Arbis, Ramon Cotto, his nephew, Edwin de Guzman, his
cousin from California, Juanito Salazar Diamonon and his favorite, Jennalyn Tabanag.
Ernie will be remembered for his kindness, generosity and unwavering love for his family and friends.

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