In memoriam: Sal Troia, friend and philanthropist
Salvatore “Sal” A. Troia, a friend and philanthropic supporter of the University of Wisconsin Department of Medicine, died on May 10, 2025.
Sal and his wife Judy provided generous gifts to many areas at UW-Madison. One of their passions was supporting the UW Inflammatory Bowel Disease program and two of their many gifts to this area established these endowed positions in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology:
- The Judy L. and Sal A. Troia Endowed Professorship in Gastrointestinal Disease Research, held by Andrew Hryckowian, PhD, assistant professor
- The Judy and Sal Troia Faculty Fellow in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Leadership, held by Sumona Saha, MD, MS, associate professor (CHS)
Troia, a graduate of Edgewood High School and UW-Madison, spent most of his professional career in the banking industry, retiring as president of the Data Services division of M&I Bank.
He and Judy were passionate about environmental preservation, reducing homelessness in Madison and competitive bicycle racing.
“Sal has been a constant source of inspiration for me since I joined the faculty at UW-Madison—kind, inquisitive, and had a joie de vivre that was unlike what I have seen in others in my life,” reflects Dr. Hryckowian.
“It was a privilege to be Sal’s doctor for many years and am grateful for both his and Judy’s generosity and support of our IBD program,” adds Dr. Saha. “I will miss our lively conversations about his health mixed in with stories from his many cycling adventures.”
A celebration of life will take place at the UW Arboretum Visitors Center on Friday, June 27, 2025, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.