Salvatore Cingari
July 31, 1946 — May 22, 2025
Salvatore J. “Chip” Cingari, a lifelong Stamford resident, passed away peacefully on May 22, 2025, with his loving family by his side. Chip was born in Stamford on July 31, 1946 to the late Dominick P. and Adeline Latte Cingari.
Chip attended St. Mary’s School and graduated from Stamford High School in 1964. He began his career in the grocery business before he could even ride a bike, working for his grandfather Salvatore Sr., sweeping floors, separating and cleaning bottles, and stocking shelves in the family’s first store located in the Shippan section of Stamford. Drafted into the Army in 1966, Chip served in Germany with the 3rd Missile Battalion, Nike Missile Hercules Unit, achieving the rank of Specialist 5, with Top Secret clearance. Honorably discharged in 1968, Chip rejoined the family business, married his high school sweetheart Nancy Halama in 1969, and managed the nonperishable side of the business, which has grown to include the 12 stores which make up the Cingari Family ShopRites.
Chip had a passion for volunteering and helping others, and gave much to the community. He served the Connecticut Food Association as a member of the Board of Directors for over 30 years and was selected as the first inductee in the CFA Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Stamford Italian Center, where he served on the Board of Directors for over 15 years. He also served in a variety of leadership roles at St Leo’s Church for over three decades and supported Al’s Angels in their food drives. Chip was an integral part of the growth and development of local non-profit Kids Helping Kids and served on the Board of Directors.
More than anything, he enjoyed spending time with his family – especially his grandchildren. Chip is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Nancy Halama Cingari, his son Dominick Cingari and his wife Lisa Evanko Cingari, his daughter Jennifer Cingari Christie and her husband Jason, his brother Joseph J. Cingari and his wife Jane Lyons Cingari and his sister Donna J. Cingari Ormond and her husband Thomas. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren, Salvatore, Sofia, Avery, Madison and Miles, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.
A funeral procession will leave the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford, on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 10:30 AM and proceed to St. Mary’s RC Church, 566 Elm Street, Stamford for a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11:00 AM. Entombment will follow at St. John’s Cemetery, Darien. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Chip’s memory to The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306 or online at www.t2t.org/donate.
To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com.
Chip attended St. Mary’s School and graduated from Stamford High School in 1964. He began his career in the grocery business before he could even ride a bike, working for his grandfather Salvatore Sr., sweeping floors, separating and cleaning bottles, and stocking shelves in the family’s first store located in the Shippan section of Stamford. Drafted into the Army in 1966, Chip served in Germany with the 3rd Missile Battalion, Nike Missile Hercules Unit, achieving the rank of Specialist 5, with Top Secret clearance. Honorably discharged in 1968, Chip rejoined the family business, married his high school sweetheart Nancy Halama in 1969, and managed the nonperishable side of the business, which has grown to include the 12 stores which make up the Cingari Family ShopRites.
Chip had a passion for volunteering and helping others, and gave much to the community. He served the Connecticut Food Association as a member of the Board of Directors for over 30 years and was selected as the first inductee in the CFA Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Stamford Italian Center, where he served on the Board of Directors for over 15 years. He also served in a variety of leadership roles at St Leo’s Church for over three decades and supported Al’s Angels in their food drives. Chip was an integral part of the growth and development of local non-profit Kids Helping Kids and served on the Board of Directors.
More than anything, he enjoyed spending time with his family – especially his grandchildren. Chip is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Nancy Halama Cingari, his son Dominick Cingari and his wife Lisa Evanko Cingari, his daughter Jennifer Cingari Christie and her husband Jason, his brother Joseph J. Cingari and his wife Jane Lyons Cingari and his sister Donna J. Cingari Ormond and her husband Thomas. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren, Salvatore, Sofia, Avery, Madison and Miles, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.
A funeral procession will leave the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford, on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 10:30 AM and proceed to St. Mary’s RC Church, 566 Elm Street, Stamford for a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11:00 AM. Entombment will follow at St. John’s Cemetery, Darien. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Chip’s memory to The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306 or online at www.t2t.org/donate.
To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Salvatore Cingari, please visit our flower store.