Roy N. Scalera
April 2, 1940 – February 11, 2025
Roy N. Scalera, 84, passed away peacefully on February 11, 2025 in Fairfield, Connecticut. Born on April 2, 1940, in Rochester, New York, Roy was a self-made man who lived a life marked by dedication to family, career, coaching, and community.
A proud graduate of Aquinas High School in 1959, Roy excelled both in the classroom and on the field, starring in football (playing both offense and defense) and track. Roy credited Aquinas for providing him with a solid education, strong values and life-long friends. He continued to have lunch with his “59ers” classmates every month until he was well into his 80s. After graduating from Aquinas, Roy continued his education at Niagara University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1963.
In 1966, Roy married Janice (Muscolo), with whom he built a loving home until her passing in 2014. This fun-loving and deeply devoted couple created a beautiful home for their family and friends to enjoy. Roy was always game to throw a big party in the backyard (aka the “North 40”) or the 1950s style basement bar. Together, Roy & Janice hosted Christmas gatherings, Easter egg hunts, raucous birthday parties and graduation celebrations with rockin’ live music!
Roy enjoyed a long and successful career at Eastman Kodak, where he worked for over 30 years, managing hundreds of employees in the electronics division. One of his proudest professional achievements was working on the Gambit spy satellite program to provide intel to the US Government during the Cold War. Roy also directly served his country with honor as a Staff Sergeant in the Army Reserves during the Vietnam War era.
A passionate and gifted coach, Roy dedicated many years to mentoring young student athletes. From the late 1960s through the early 1980s, he led the St. Ambrose CYO 7th and 8th grade basketball teams to numerous championships with his intricate strategy and inspiring leadership. He also coached Pop Warner football, his sons’ soccer teams, and high school women’s basketball at Mercy High School, sharing his love of team sports and wisdom with generations of players. He often said a dedicated coach gets more out of the team sports than the players.
Roy had a fantastic sense of humor and a deep appreciation for life. He cherished time spent with family and friends, always bringing laughter to those around him with his sharp wit, inventive storytelling and unique catch phrases like “Sports fans, electric fans, Dewey Decimal fans …”
He is survived by his sons, Nicholas Scalera and Thomas Scalera and Daughters-in-Law, Carolyn Vasques Scalera, Brett Ravage and Rebecca Timlin-Scalera (deceased). He was a proud and devoted grandfather to Amelie, Bella, and Luca who brought him immense joy and pride.
Roy will be remembered for his kindness, integrity, leadership, and unwavering commitment to those he loved. His legacy lives on in his family, his former players, and the countless lives he touched.
A celebration of Roy’s life service will be held at St. Ambrose Church on April 14, 2025 at 10:00am. Private burial. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Roy’s memory to the Cancer Couch Foundation at www.thecancercouch.com.
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