Jerry Scopel

On Saturday, April 30, 2022, Jerry Scopel was called home to the Lord and into the waiting arms of his beloved wife, Rosie. He was surrounded in love as he peacefully left this world, with his cherished children, Bryan and Kellie by his side reminding him what a gift it was to have him as their father.

Born on December 7, 1948 in East Detroit, Jerry was the son of Rose and Tino Scopel and the middle brother of Bryan Scopel and Hugh Connor. He started kindergarten early at the age of 4 and would tell stories of being the “smallest” kid in his grade. That never deterred him from making a mark on the world, and after graduating from East Detroit High School in 1966, he went on to Michigan State University where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology but more importantly, it was at Michigan State where he met the love of his life, Rosemary Konopnick. Rosie loved to share the story about Jerry’s mom often calling the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority house checking on Rosie to make sure she was going to “marry my Jerry.” And that they did; Jerry and Rosie married in 1973 and initially settled in Warren, Michigan and welcomed Bryan (1978) and Kellie (1982) before moving to Rochester Hills in 1992. Their marriage was one that you only wish for in this life; they shared a mutual respect for each other and their careers, they built a life with dozens of friends, constant social gatherings and parties (complete with Jer’s famous “Ya-Ha Punch”) and they created a home and life for Bryan and Kellie filled with constant laughter and unconditional love. Kellie often reflects “my dad was just always there; every ice show, every competition, every pageant, everything; he was never not there.”

While Jerry started his career as a biochemist with Diffco Laboratories, it was in 1978 that Jerry and his dear brother Bryan both left their jobs, bought a video game route and started what would eventually become Alpha Amusements, Inc, a true success of a family owned and operated business. Oh to be a fly on the wall the day Jerry came home to tell Rosie, who was very pregnant with Bryan at the time, that he left his stable job as a biochemist to instead own pinball machines, but not to worry because he had a good feeling about it! And he was right. For nearly forty years Jerry and Bryan grew their business from their parent’s basement to the largest coin operated/family fun center business in the Midwest. You weren’t really a Scopel, Jerry would often say, unless you knew how to fix a quarter jam, worked a shift in one of the arcades and could move a 400lb video game. In 2016 Jerry and his brother decided it was time to “hang up their (game) keys” and sold the business and sailed into retirement.

If you asked a hundred people what they remember most about Jerry, without doubt all would tell some tale of the laughter and joking he brought to everyone around him. Often adopting the persona of Clark Griswold (and of course Rosie was called Ellen Griswold), or that of carpool karaoke DJ, or even James Bond when Rosie would make him dress up in a tux, he was always making people smile through funny songs, personalities or his “world famous jokes.” But even with all those roles, he was most proud and reveled in the final role he played for the past decade: “Bugga” to his treasured grandsons, Jackson and Oliver. It is not every day that a child gets to have a grandparent that is also a best friend, cheerleader, team mascot, half-day party planner, travel partner, scuba expert and Costco shopping spree provider; but that is exactly what Jack and Ollie got everyday with their Bugga. Jerry was more than incredible father to Bryan and Kellie and he extended that love to his grandsons and would tell anyone who would listen all about his Jack and Ollie. Sharing his love of the ice and the game of hockey with Jackson brought tears (literally, every time Jack scored a goal) to Bugga’s eyes and he was absolutely convinced, at the ripe age of 7, that Oliver would be drafted #1 in the NFL Draft someday. His love was not one sided; Jackson and Oliver (and all of their friends who also grew accustomed to having Bugga at playdates, birthday parties and joined on many of those Costco runs) treasured their Bugga more than anything.

Jerry was not alone when he was welcomed to heaven. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Rosie, his parents Tino and Rose, and his dear brother-in-laws Jim Horosko and Mike Konopnick. He is survived in death by his two children, Bryan Scopel and Kellie Nickovich (loving boyfriend Kelly Costello), grandsons Jackson and Oliver Nickovich, brothers Bryan (Irene) Scopel and Hugh (Janet) Conner, his treasured sister and brother in laws Marge Horosko, Mary and Pat Teague, and Nancy Konopnick and his many loved nieces and nephews.

Bryan and Kellie invite you to help them celebrate the life of their amazing father with a visitation to be held on Friday, May 6th from 4-8pm and Saturday May 7th from 10am until the time of the funeral service at 11am at Pixley Funeral Home, located at 322 W. University Drive in downtown Rochester. Burial at Guardian Angels Cemetery to follow. The family will welcome friends and loved ones to a luncheon following the celebration of Jerry.