Scalera, Michael J. II
Scalera, Michael J. III husband of Faye nee Capezzera, father of Anna Romano, Michelle Stecky, Michael III Jr., Marcella Scalera-Budd and Marc-Anthony and Ten Grandchildren; Danielle Del Sordo, Robert Romano II, Olivia and Victoria Stecky, Michael IV, and Nicole Scalera, Giana and Celena Budd, Marc Anthony Jr., and Delaney “Carmella” Scalera. Great Grandson, Marco A. Grasso. In addition, his cherished in-laws, Robert Romano, Raymond Stecky, David Budd Sr. and Barbara Scalera.
Known as “Big Mike” by friends and family, he was a self-employed insurance Agent with State Farm Insurance Co. West Orange, NJ for thirty four years until his retirement in 1997. Mike had a big passion for collections; from stamps, coins, books and classical works of art. He justified this by saying “If there were no collections, we could never sensually experience the past.”
He graduated from Seton Hall University, earning his BS in Business Administration and Management. During the Korean War, he served in the US Army Intelligence as a Cryptographer, Seventh Army Group, Headquartered in Konigsberg, Germany.
Mike was Au ’Contraire and justifiably so, and since he considered himself an “Epicurean-Cynic” fond of luxury, sensuous pleasures and being critical at the same time, he was always seeking Veritas.
He loved to chit chat and meet people and in his youth was active in UNICO as the past President, Livingston Chapter in 1964. Mike was a Board member of the C.I.C Seton Hall University, Chairman of the Essex County Mental Health and a member of the Orange Y’s Guys. His most recent domain was the Sparta Athletic Club.
A true fanatic on traditions and culinary arts, his last project was “Passing The Torch”, a personal collection to pass on to his family for the next generation. Mike was very persistent on family roots, the deeper the better. “If you don’t have any roots, you’ll lack traditions”. “What we devote to life is what we eventually become”. (1999 MJS III) “Canto per canto ~ La commedia ~ E’Finito”.
Riposare in Pace
Funeral services will be held Friday April 14 at 10 AM in the Iliff-Ruggiero Funeral Home #156 Main St. (Rt. 206) Newton. Entombment will follow in the Gates of Heaven RC Cemetery E. Hanover, NJ. Visitation will be in the funeral home Thursday April 13, 2017 from 5 to 8 PM. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Mike Scalera Charitable Foundation 401 Morris Ave. Springfield, NJ 07081.
