Rose Knadjian Salzano

Rose Salzano (nee Knadjian), our beloved mother, passed away on May 15, 2016, just a few days before her 90th birthday.

Rosie was the little sparrow with a heart as fierce as an eagle. She loved life as an artist, whether restoring a historic house or jazz dancing on stage. She was truly an amazing person, combining a vibrant mixture of traits, both artistic and whimsical. As an interior designer and entrepreneur, educated at the New York School of Interior Design, Rosie transformed many people’s homes into calm and beautiful spaces. She loved theater and dance. She was a lifelong member of the Strollers of Maplewood, and designed sets for a large number of plays over the years, and also acted, was technical chair, and chaired both the props and costume departments. She was a dresser at the Paper Mill Playhouse for many productions, and designed sets for some off-Broadway plays. Additionally, she volunteered her artistic services as a docent at the Newark Museum, and also worked at Liberty Hall Museum, cataloguing their antiques and designing and carrying out tea ceremonies. With her beloved husband Carl, she was an accomplished sailor, and really loved the times they spent on their sailboat in North Carolina.

Rose leaves behind her children, Lynne Gildensoph, Jeanne MacFarland (Robert MacFarland), and Edward Salzano, and her grandchildren, Tristan Stoner and his wife Erin, Morgan Stoner and his wife Karleena, Holden Stoner, and Zoe Stoner, along with great-grandchildren Madison and Caleb Stoner, and her niece Beverly Dodd and great-nephew Kevin Dodd. Rose was predeceased by her loving mother and father, Flora and Peter Knadjian, her brother Edward Knadjian and her sister Virginia Middleton. She was also pre deceased by her first husband Bernard W. Gildensoph.

A celebration of Rosie’s life will take place on Friday, May 20, 2016 at 1 pm at Morrow Memorial United Methodist Church, located at 600 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood, NJ. A reception will follow the service in Fellowship Hall. Those wishing to send flowers should have them delivered to the church by 12 noon.

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