This has been one of the roughest weeks the Cigar Industry has endured in some time.   Word is now coming out that the legendary Sal Fontana has passed away.   Sal had been ill for sometime. He was 86 years old.

A World War II veteran, Sal was also one of the brain-trusts with Camacho Cigars.  In fact Camacho President Christian Eiroa referred to Sal as his “Consigliere”.  The La Fontana line under Camacho bears his name.  Sal came to Camacho when his La Fontana line was acquired by Camacho back in 1992.

Sal was a man who was filled with deep knowledge of the cigar industry.  In fact, the brains behind the legendary Camacho Triple Maduro was none other than Sal himself.  He also was behind the commercially successful Baccarat cigar. I’m sure we will see a lot of tributes to Sal over the next few days.

Update (2/3/11): Cigar Aficionado has posted a terrific article on Sal.