One Minute With Henry Salmon
March 28, 2008

Name: Henry Salmon

Occupation: President of Equity Valuation Associates, Real Estate Appraisal, Consulting

Address: North Edison

Family: Married for 28 years to Linda, an occupational therapist and program director of Children At Play Learning Interventions in Staten Island, N.Y. Son Matthew is a bank officer in N.Y.C. married to Honey affiliated with Nickelodeon Magazine in N.Y.C. Two daughters: Abbey and Katie, both high school students at the Purnell School in Pottersville.

A brother, Jon, president of Salmon Real Estate Staten Island married to Meryl living in Scotch Plains. They have twin daughters, Barrie and Tracy, both entering medical school in the fall and a son, Scott, who will graduate Scotch Plains High School.

Parents Egon and Marian Salmon who live in Del Ray Beach, Florida. Egon is a survivor of the St. Louis Voyage of the Damned, former New York State tax commissioner and founded Salmon Real Estate of Staten Island 52 years ago.

Community Activities: Past president of Solomon Schechter Day School of Raritan Valley for three years. He and his wife Linda will be honored by SSDSRV on Wednesday, April 9 at a dinner featuring a talk by psychosexual therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer. A member of Highland Park Conservative Temple. First Vice Chair of the Staten Island Museum, past chairman of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. Part of the Visioning Project for Staten Island a sub committee for developing a master plan for Staten Island growth. A member of Mayor Bloomberg's Homeport Task Force for the redevelopment of the Naval facility in Staten Island.

Hobbies: "I 'accumulate' stamps -- instead of saying I 'collect' them. I also like to garden -- some vegetables and dabble in growing orchids in my kitchen window."

Self portrait: "I'm practical genuine, grounded, problem solver and very comfortable with people."

Motto: "You have to have perspective and a sense of humor."

Greatest accomplishment: "Becoming president of Solomon Schechter School as I was finishing my last year as Chairman of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and also running my business, and I survived. It was a tough year."

Bad habits: "I worry a lot."

Favorite TV: "I try to watch "Today" in the morning and the 10 p.m. news at night."

Favorite food: "I like coffee ice cream with caramel topping and wet walnuts."

Best childhood memory: "Growing up on Staten Island when Staten Island still had farms and open space and having a very close family members living on Staten Island -- aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. There were six cousins on my mother's side and two cousins on my father's side. We would see each other mostly every weekend and on holidays."

People don't know that: "My wife, Linda, and I lived in the bay area of California from 1983-1986. I worked for a bank in Oakland, Calif. During this time we developed an interest in wineries and making our own wine. We made a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and the next an Amador County Zinfandel. Viticulture experts at Cornell University and the University of Pisa select the grapes to grow in Botanical Garden and the Botanical Garden is preparing the ground for the vines this year.

Last book I read: "The Age of Turbulence," by Allen Greenspan. "Some of the book was entertaining, interesting and some of the book was very cerebral. It's really two books in one. The first part concerns who Greenspan knew, the conversations he had with leaders of state. The second part of the book is really an economics text. I have an MBA from Cornell, so both sections were interesting."

The biggest asset in the local Jewish communities: "I think there are any number of volunteers with good hearts to help the various Jewish institutions."

The biggest problem in the local Jewish communities: "Demographic changes creating economic hardships for Jewish institutions. Middlesex County has become pretty expensive especially for first time homeowners."

If I had more time I would... "Travel the world extensively. I love to travel."