SALVON, Benjamin W. Family and friends remember Benjamin W. Salvon, who died May 12, 2003 at age 71 after a long illness. Up until the last week of his life, Ben was striving to return to health. A few days before his death, he and his family learned of the terminal nature of the cancer complicated by diabetes.
   Friday, May 23rd his ashes will be scattered from his boat under the Golden Gate Bridge.
   A celebration of his life will be held in Healdsburg, Sunday, May 25th from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Please call 433-8992 for details.
   He grew up in Albany, Oregon and as an adolescent began his lifetime pursuit of knowledge. Using money earned from hard labor at his family's lumber mill, Ben would buy books in the widest range of subjects. He often received calls from a bookseller who had selected books for him to purchase.
   He attended the University of Oregon, was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, enjoyed work as a disc jockey, and became a star track athlete.
   Ben enlisted as a paratrooper in the Army and achieved a rank of major in the Korean War. Upon his return to civilian life, he continued his college education under the G.I. Bill to receive a Business degree from San Jose State University.
   Upon graduation, he flew his own plane through Central and South America for the better part of a year.
   After working at Tidewater Oil and CA Dept. of Fish and Game, he moved to Healdsburg to help his uncle open the city's first car wash. While employed with the County of Sonoma, he re-opened Camp Rose Inn on Fitch Mountain in 1971. The successful restaurant provided the only setting in the town of Healdsburg to dine on the banks of the Russian River and was a popular stop for locals and tourists alike.
   In 1976, the restaurant expanded to include dinner-theater, thus creating the Camp Rose Players.
  Ben was a talented sculptor, an accomplished jazz pianist and a fine actor. When he wasn't tending bar, he took to the stage, with lead roles in "The Lion in Winter" and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum."
   Ben was active in founding the Fitch Mountain Homeowner's Association, spearheading projects to bring stronger fire protection and a better water system to Fitch Mountain residents.
   Ben took an early retirement at the age of 50. He and his mate, Mary Potasz, lived abroad for several years and pursued their mutual love of travel through Europe, Asia, the Middle East, South Seas, New Zealand and Australia.
  He studied celestial navigation and bought the first of several boats he kept in Sausalito for outings around San Francisco Bay, where he spent much of his time in later years.
   Ben's voracious reading habit and insatiable thirst for knowledge provided him with a unique perspective in the areas of world history, literature, science, politics, and current events. His extensive knowledge in these areas along with his charismatic demeanor lead to what many will attest, a lifetime of engaging conversations. Those around him also recognized his keen abilities as an observer of human nature and often delighted in his inhibitions when it came to sharing his insights. Add to this list his reputation as an avid football fan, a technophile and collector of the latest gadgetry, and as an impassioned amateur astronomer. It becomes clear as to why so many regarded Ben as a renaissance man of sorts.
   Ben also possessed an off-the-wall sense of humor and heightened sense for drama which tended to place him as the center of attention at any social gathering. Indeed, many consider Ben's love of irony and uncanny ability to retain bad jokes as legendary. On occasion, his warped but unique brand of humor bordered on the downright bizarre; describing his greatest ambition in life as to become a Soul Train dancer.
   He is survived by his mate/ "favorite land mammal," Mary Potasz, his children Jeff Salvon of Portland, Oregon, and Hilary Holmoe, Jennifer Tremont, and Suzanne Webb, all of Sonoma County.
   He leaves three grandchildren, Jessica Holmoe, Emma Tremont, Lily Tremont, and several cousins along with a multitude of friends and admirers. To all those whose lives he has affected, he will be sorely missed.
   The family owes special thanks to the staff at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Sotoyome Campus who helped care for Ben. He was greatly appreciative and loved all of the attention.
   Donations may be made in his name to the Robert Ferguson Observatory at www.rfo.org or the Humane Society of Sonoma Co., P.O. Box 1296, Santa Rosa, CA 95402.

Second Lt. Benjamin W. Salvon, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Chambers, Albany, has been assigned to the 508th airborne regimental combat team, a unit attached to the 11th airborne division, Fort Campbell, Ky.
   Lt. Salvon was graduated from Albany high school and later attended the University of Oregon. He entered the Army in February, 1953, and served as an enlisted man until September of this year, when he received his commission on completion of the officer candidate school, Fort Benning, Ca.