Mary Scalise

Mary Lou R. Scalise, age 85, a resident of Erie, passed away Friday, February 23, 2018 at St. Mary’s at Asbury Ridge. She was born February 9, 1933 in New Kensington, PA the daughter of the late Anthony and Lena Regoli Scalise. A longtime resident of Erie, Mary Lou received her B.A. from Mercyhurst College and later earned a diploma from the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, Italy.

 After a brief time teaching art in the public schools she decided on a career in college as a teacher of languages. As a result, she studied and received her M.A. degree in Spanish from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Returning to Erie, she taught Spanish for three years at Edinboro University before moving to Gannon as an Assistant Professor of Spanish. Following Gannon’s decision to start a program in Foreign Languages and International Business, Miss Scalise took a leave of absence from Gannon University to work in San Antonio, Texas to gain hands on experience in the world of business, especially those having a high volume of contact with Mexico. There she worked at Arthur Young and Co. as a liaison for Mexican affiliates and Spanish speaking clients as well as teaching commercial Spanish to the American workers. She returned to Gannon in 1981 and began her program of commercial Spanish for business. The success of this program brought requests for other specialized programs in Spanish for Police personnel, Medical, Social Work, and Mental Health Practitioners.

Throughout her career, Miss Scalise has been active in service both to the business world and in the schools. She has served as a consultant, translator, and interpreter for numerous local businesses who have entertained Spanish speaking clients and personal and has also trained many of the Spanish teachers now employed in local High Schools. In 1990, she was designated Language Educator of the Year by the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association. Miss Scalise also served on numerous committees at Gannon University as well as having had many articles published.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers; Charles R. Scalise and John A. Scalise.

Mary Lou is survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins in Erie, Pittsburgh, New Kensington and throughout the country.

Friends are invited to call at St. Paul’s RC Church, 1617 Walnut St., on Wednesday from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM at which time a Funeral Mass will be celebrated. Entombment will be in Calvary Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to HANDS, 7 East 7^th St., Erie, PA 16501. Arrangements by the Quinn Funeral Home, West 9^th & Liberty St.