Salvatore (Sam) Scaletta

It is with heavy hearts we announce the peaceful passing of Sam Scaletta at Vista Park Lodge with his wife Carla and daughters Andrea and Jennifer by his side. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 58 years Carla (Reichert), his daughters Andrea (Will) Woytowich and Jennifer (Terry) Miles, and his beloved grandchildren Julia (Abhi), Evan (Alice), Abby, Hannah (Matt) and Mark. He will be greatly missed by his siblings Angela Porco, Giuseppe (Diane) Scaletta and Anna Scaletta (John Mooibroek), brothers and sisters-in-law Ken (Barb) Reichert, Alfredo Maida, Salvatora Scaletta and Giuseppa Scaletta, 11 nephews, 9 nieces and their families. He was predeceased by siblings Giuseppa (Bill) Martin, Ignazio Scaletta, Vincenzo Scaletta, Maria Maida and brother-in-law Francesco Porco.

Sam was born in Termini Imerese, Sicily and immigrated to Winnipeg with his family in 1951. He grew up on Genthon Street in St Boniface attending Nelson McIntyre Collegiate and graduating from the University of Manitoba St Paul’s College with a Bachelor of Arts in 1966 and a Bachelor of Education in 1968.

Sam taught English at Windsor Park Collegiate from 1966 to 1996. His teaching fostered lifelong friendships with colleagues, and his mentorship positively influenced the lives of his students. Sam was honoured in 2014 by former students Mike and Lisa Saladin who established a scholarship and student centre in his name at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Sam was fortunate throughout his life to be surrounded by good friends. He remained close with childhood friends Carl, Vern and Dan, university friends Joe and Bill, as well as fellow teachers and former students Brian, John, Larry, Al, Mike, Reed and Yves (the Biltmore Boys).

Sam sang with the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir, golfed (hole in one on the 9th hole at Windsor Park), played cribbage (29 hand twice) and loved the cottage at Deighton Beach. He enjoyed getting the deals on groceries, cutting the grass, dominating at ping pong, pouring a rum and coke and having a good snooze on the couch. He celebrated his 70th birthday with the return of the Winnipeg Jets and was a lifelong fan of the Bombers and the Jets. He was the 1997 champion of the Sam Scaletta Ashern Invitational Open and will forever be the Commissioner.

For 16 years, Sam lived at Vic Wyatt House enjoying the community and natural beauty along the Seine River.

Sam was a devoted husband and father and his greatest joy in life was becoming a grandfather. He adored his grandchildren and was immeasurably proud of the adults they have become. He was happiest when everyone was together under the same roof, including the beloved dachshunds.

We would like to thank all staff at Vista Park Lodge for caring for Sam with kindness and devotion after moving there in 2018 with advanced Parkinson’s. We are especially thankful for the love and support we received during Sam’s last few days.

If friends so desire, please consider a donation to Windsor Park Golf Course 100th Anniversary towards the planting of a new tree or a bench for the course (https://ppdportal.winnipeg.ca/Golf/Windsor/request.jsp) or to Save Our Seine towards the preservation of the natural beauty behind Vic Wyatt House (saveourseine.com).

Funeral mass will be held Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 11:15 am at Christ the King Church, 847 St Mary’s Road. Private interment at Brookside Cemetery will occur at a later date.

Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest! (Hamlet, act 5, scene 2)