Salvatore Cocolla, 94, of West Hartford passed away peacefully on December 17, 2014. He was born on July 7, 1920 in Canicattini Bagni, Sicily where he met and married his beloved wife Mary (Lombardo). Sal was a barber and musician in the old country and came to America in 1947 where he lived in Hartford, until he moved his family to West Hartford in 1963. He is predeceased by his daughter, Virginia. Along with his wife Mary, he leaves his son, Peter and his wife Mary, two grandsons Mychal and his wife Krystal, Daniel and his wife Christine and a great granddaughter, Giuliana, a brother-in-law and sister-in-law Gaetano and Nina Amato and nephews Anthony and Joseph Amato, plus numerous nieces and nephews and relatives from the Lombardo side. Salvatore was the youngest of four brothers: John, Paul and Nicola, and a sister, Michalena, who died at a young age in Sicily. He was the last of his family’s generation. Salvatore was the chief owner of the highly successful and prestigious Professional Barber Shop in downtown Hartford until he retired at age 83. His clients were high profile professionals and included top politicians, CEO’s and he met celebrities such as Danny Kaye, Joe DiMaggio and famed opera legend Luciano Pavarotti. Cocolla was the 1983 President of the Italian charitable association, UNICO. To celebrate an anniversary of his barber shop in 1997, Salvatore organized and ran a highly successful golf tournament that raised over $60,000 for the Connecticut Children’s Hospital. His hobbies included golfing and gardening and his beautiful flowers and vegetables were envied by golfers as they came through the 11th green of the Rockledge Golf Course which abuts the Cocolla residence. Friends would often “take a break” at the 11th hole to stop for lunch with Mary and Sal before resuming their game. Salvatore was a very well known and outspoken figure in Downtown Hartford and was nicknamed variously as "Sal the Barber", "the Duke of Downtown"," the General "or "La Boca" (the mouth) and could frequently be heard giving his comments and opinions on the Brad Davis show. He will be missed by his family, friends, co-workers and his many customers from the days gone by. Funeral procession will be Saturday, (Dec. 20), 9:15 am from the Sheehan Hilborn Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Ave., West Hartford followed by a Mass of Christian Burial, 10:00 am at St. Brigid Church, West Hartford. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford. Calling hours will be Friday, (Dec.19), from 4- 7 pm. at the funeral home.