John Grant Salerno, affectionately known as “Johnny” and “John John,” passed away on November 1, 2026, in Fort Pierce, Florida, at the age of 25.

John was born on November 22, 2000, in Boynton Beach, Florida. He attended Saint Anastasia Catholic School and John Carroll High School, where he was active in athletics, playing soccer in middle school and participating on both the soccer and lacrosse teams in high school. He continued his education at the University of North Florida, where he was a sophomore studying General Arts.

Faith was an important part of John's life. He served as an altar server at Saint Anastasia Catholic Church in Fort Pierce for 15 years, achieving the distinction of Senior Knight Commander of the Altar. Through his years of dedicated service, he developed a special connection to his church and faith community.

John had a deep appreciation for music, nature, and the arts. He loved playing guitar and writing music and was a talented artist who enjoyed creating beautiful landscapes and portraits using watercolor and charcoal. He had a special gift for observing the natural world and took great pleasure in identifying the birds, plants, and wildlife found on the property where he lived and along the surrounding nature trails. He also lovingly cared for the cattle and horses, reflecting his connection to the outdoors and the animals around him.

John will be lovingly remembered by his mother, Tina Salerno of Port St. Lucie; his father, Gerald (Shelley) Salerno of Hobe Sound; his sister, Jordan Salerno of Miami; his grandmother, Nina Stapan of Port St. Lucie; his uncle, Grant Pakhtigian of Port St. Lucie; his uncles and aunts, James and Connie Salerno of Hendersonville, North Carolina, John and Heather Salerno of Stamford, Connecticut, and Jeffrey and Adriana Salerno of Orlando; and his cousins, Jimmy and Kayti Salerno, Charlie and Casey McGee, and David and Emma Reisner, all of Stuart, as well as Claire and Julia Salerno of Stamford, Connecticut.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Loraine and Silvio Salerno; his maternal grandfather, Noubar Pakhtigian; his step-grandfather, George Stapan; his great-grandparents, Aniello and Rose Salerno, Albert and Julia Klebba, Hrant and Nazeni Pakhtigian, and Khosrof and Mary DerOhanessian.

John's life was marked by his creativity, love of nature, devotion to his faith, and the many special connections he shared with those around him. He will be deeply missed and forever cherished by his family and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Saint Anastasia Catholic Church in recognition of John's 15 years of dedicated service as an altar server.

Services: Visitation will be held on Monay, November 9, 2026 from 5:00-7:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at Haisley Funeral Home, Fort Pierce. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at 10:00 AM at St. Anastasia Catholic Church, Fort Pierce. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens.