Patricia Ann Scalzi

Patricia Ann Ingala Scalzi, 83, passed away peacefully in the early hours of April 30, 2024, shortly after suffering a stroke. Patricia had moved to Colorado to be closer to family in late summer 2023, and was surrounded by them when she passed.

Pat grew up in Waterbury, Connecticut, with her parents and sister, surrounded by her extended Italian family. Always a bright student, Pat graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Connecticut College. It was as a Fulbright Scholar headed to University of Florence to study Italian Renaissance Literature that she met Francis Scalzi, another Fulbright scholar headed to Padua for postdoctoral research in Organic Chemistry. Their first date was in Casablanca. They married and had two children, Gina and Giancarlo. They raised their children in Hudson, Ohio, with the help of a village of friends and the First Congregational Church.

Pat held a Masters of Arts in Italian Literature from Rutgers University and went on to a career in education, holding positions at Western Reserve Academy, Case Western Reserve University, and Arizona State University. Pat was proud to have spearheaded campaigns for higher education that successfully raised funds for the likes of the W.M. Keck Foundation Laboratory for Environmental Biogeochemistry, Nina Legacy Scholars programs, Disability Resources for Students Program, the Salado Program in the Center for Environmental Studies, the Virginia G. Piper Creative Writing Program, and the Infant Research Program.

Pat retired and resided in Scottsdale, Arizona until she moved to Colorado in 2023. An avid traveler, Pat ventured from Japan to Europe, and always back to Italy, as often as possible. She found community at St. Barnabas in the Desert. Though she was addicted to reading of all genres, she loved ancient Roman history and epic fictional literature. She loved gardening in her Southwestern haven. Pat's later years were also dedicated to her volunteer work as a docent at the Phoenix Museum of Art. She is survived by her sister Christine, her daughters Chieko and Gina, her son-in-law Douglas and grandchildren Lisa and Ian. We ask that her memory be celebrated in the form of donations to the Docent Legacy Endowment at Phoenix Art Museum. Please visit https://11000a.blackbaudhosting.com/11000a/Annual-Fund---Donations-General and listing "Donation for Decent Legacy Endowment fund in honor of Patricia Scalzi."

Gatherings for the celebration of Patricia's life will take place in the future, in Hudson and Waterbury.