Gabriel Salinas
August 6, 1935 – April 7, 2023
Gabriel Salinas, 87, years young. It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Gabriel Salinas on Friday, April 7, 2023. Born in Lima, Peru, he was one of 18 children of the late Alberto and Blanca Salinas.
Gabriel is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joan; his daughter, Kathie, and her husband, Rob; granddaughters, Emma and Madeleine Fors; his brothers and sisters, Luis (Ursula), Orlando, Sara, and Hortensia; and many nieces and nephews in Peru and Sweden. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Sigrid; grandson, Stefan; and granddaughter, Erika.
Gabriel loved to surf fish and camp on the Pacific Ocean in Peru with his brothers before moving to the United States in 1962. He lived in Queens, New York, where he met the love of his life, Joan. They married in 1965 and resided in Brooklyn where he worked as an office machine mechanic at a Swedish company. In 1972, the family moved to Richmond, Virginia. Gabriel was a small business owner for the sales and service of office machines and achieved the American Dream of buying a home. He and Joan lavished love on all their grandchildren and cherished the brief time with Sigrid, Stefan, and Erika. After retirement, he and Joan loved to visit friends Danny, Sarah, and Sally in Virginia Beach. In his final years, he enjoyed traveling to his brothers, sisters, and over 70 nieces and nephews in Peru. Pepito, Mario, Roberto,
and Marita took great care of their Tio during his extended visits to Lima. Gabriel also loved his family of Swedes and practiced a few Swedish phrases when they would visit.
Gabriel enjoyed watching and listening to ABBA, Andrea Bocelli, Barry Manilow, Eydie Gorme, the Rat Pack, Johnny Mathis, Louis Armstrong, and Nat King Cole. He enjoyed playing soccer well into his 70’s.
Services will be private.
Thank you to family, friends, and neighbors for their thoughts and kindness during this difficult time. We will miss our Dad, Grandpa, Uncle, Brother, Husband, and Friend very much.
Gabriel and Joan were welcome guests at many Better Housing Coalition events over the years and were regarded as part of the BHC family. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations to the Better Housing Coalition, 23 West Broad Street, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23220 by check or online via this link: https://www.betterhousingcoalition.org/get-involved/donate/
I will miss Gabriel -he always made me smile and I enjoyed hearing his stories. Sending lots of love and hope he finally get to meet Sigrid and the kids again
I was not aware of his musical tastes. Would have been fun to sit down and enjoy listening with him. It will be a little bit quieter next door. RIP my friend.
Gabriel, du är saknad. Vi är tacksamma för allt Du gjort i alla år, för våra gemensamma barnbarn. Sov i ro!