Luigi Balestrieri, owner of Sal’s Shoe Shop, dies at 55

Luigi Balestrieri of Princeton Junction passed away on Saturday, Aug, 31 at Penn Medicine in Plainsboro, He was 55.

Born in Princeton to Salvatore and Maria Balestrieri, he lived most of his life in Princeton Junction.

A graduate of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Seton Hall University in South Orange.

Luigi began his career as a data analyst at Bloomberg in Montgomery Township, where he worked for 23 years. Subsequently, he took over the family business and operated Sal’s Shoe Shop in Princeton Junction for the past five years.

In his leisure time, he enjoyed watching sports, especially the NY Jets, music, cooking, and taking care of his beloved cats, Rusty and Sandy.

Predeceased by his parents, Salvatore and Maria Balestrieri, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins, he is survived by his sister Cataldina Balestrieri, two aunts and uncles, Phyllis and Richard Mazzella and Carmela and Antonino Mangone, and several cousins.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Paul Parish, 214 Nassau Street, Princeton, on Monday, Sept. 9 at 10 a.m.  Burial will follow in the family plot in the Princeton Cemetery.

Visitation will be held at St. Paul Parish on Monday, Sept. 9 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. prior to the mass.

Donations in Luigi’s memory to the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation, 663 Thirteenth Street, Suite 100, Oakland, CA 94612 by mail or online at myotonic.org are appreciated.

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