by Colleen Onuffer
“Good Morning! Uncle Phil loves you!” answers Phil Salamone, when I called him for this interview.
The North Chili resident lovingly nicknamed “Uncle Phil” is easily recognized by his signature tagline and smiling face. Rochester residents see him at events all year long working security, but the number of events that fill Salamone’s schedule increases with the Rochester Red Wings baseball season and annual Lilac Festival.
After graduating from Edison Career and Technology High School (Edison Tech) and serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Salamone went to work for commercial printing company, Case-Hoyt. In 1989, the recently divorced Salamone was looking for economical ways to entertain his four young boys.“I took them anywhere I could go,” explained Salamone. “Rochester has lots of free or cheap options for activities and events.” One of those family-friendly activities was attending Rochester Red Wings baseball games together.
That April, some of the ushers approached Salamone and asked if he wanted a part-time job. For $3.35 an hour, Salamone worked out in the black top parking lot.
“Lots of foul balls would come out there, and I would collect them for my kids,” said Salamone. “If there was damage to any of the cars in the parking lot, I’d report it to the Red Wings, which they appreciated.”
Once Salamone started working sporting events, he never looked back.
“Then I started working at Blue Cross Arena and never applied for another job again. People would come over to me and say, ‘I like the way you work. Would you work for me?’” explained Salamone. “Next, the Lilac Festival asked if I’d work for them. ‘We’ll invent a job for you,’ they said. Since then, I’ve been working VIP parking at the Lilac Festival for over 30 years.”
While Salamone is hired for security, “Uncle Phil” says he spends his time greeting people and “making sure they’re kind and happy.”
Most people are kind and happy when they spot Salamone at one of the 250 festivals, conventions or sporting events that he works at around the region, where he’s quick to give a hug, start up a conversation, offer his seat or share advice.
“When I first got divorced at 40 years old, I stood in the corner and cried. But then I met more and more people who were getting divorced, and I gave them a hug and gave them respect. I told them it was going to be okay. I wanted to build them up. I made so many new friends that way,” said Salamone.
Getting to meet a variety of people – and receiving their love, respect and kindness – is Salamone’s favorite part of working Rochester’s events scene.
“I like my friends, but I love strangers,” said Salamone. “A stranger gets their first impression of you in the first 60 seconds. Then when they leave, they take that memory of you with them.”
He went on to share a story from working at the Puerto Rican Festival.
“I was saying hi to everyone who passed me. One guy walked past, then walked back, turned around and asked, ‘Do I know you?’ I said, ‘No, I’m just saying hi!’” said Salamone.
It’s his easy-going nature and ability to talk to anyone that led to Salamone’s nickname. “It was about 20 years ago when someone at an event asked if they could call me their Uncle Phil. I said yes and from that day on, everyone started calling me their uncle!”
But what’s a character without a catchphrase?
“My phrase ‘Uncle Phil loves you!’ started because I was lonely. I had no one in my life. I realized if I tell people I love them, they’ll say they love me back,” explained Salamone. “It brought tears to my eyes. It means they love me, and that warms my heart.”
In July 2019, the Rochester Red Wings celebrated Salamone’s 34th season with the team by turning him and his popular phrase into a talking bobblehead that was handed out to the first 1,000 attendees.
“I was very delighted and excited for the opportunity!” exclaimed Salamone. With the photo shoot and video and audio recordings, Salamone felt like a Rochester celebrity. That evening, Salamone was joined in a suite with his sons, grandchildren, brother and sister-in-law. “I think it was one of the biggest Wednesday crowds they had that year. Everyone was chanting, ‘Uncle Phil.’”
Thinking about that night, he added, “There are so many good people in the world. You have to let the bad people go. There’s too much good.”
As I pictured the sweet Salamone handling security, I asked if he has ever dealt with difficult people or scary situations.
“There’s been a couple of times where I’ve called on the radio, ‘It’s Uncle Phil… I need help!’” he said. “But even the bad people out there need love too. I tell them to come over and talk to me, and they usually break down. A lot of people don’t know who I am, but I’m here to help anyone. The little bit of love I can give them goes a long way.”
For another spring, Salamone will be working in the VIP parking lot of the Rochester Lilac Festival, this year running from May 10 through 19.
“I will keep doing this until I can’t do it anymore, until my body stops me,” said Salamone, referencing the 10 to 12-hour workdays ahead of him. “I’m 76 years old and I can still get up and get out of bed. There’s a reason why I’m doing this. He’s looking down on me saying, ‘Keep going, Uncle Phil!’”
Salamone is especially looking forward to the Lilac Festival’s Hugging Day. “Anyone at the event is welcome to hug Uncle Phil,” said Salamone. “My arms are open!”
Although I started the interview not personally knowing Phil Salamone, his kindness and affection is contagious. As we were hanging up, I heard, “Uncle Phil loves you!” and I couldn’t help myself but respond, “I love you too, Uncle Phil!”
