Katherine Sue Scamporrino

Katie was the granddaughter of Michael Vodjansky and his wife Anna Skalsky. Michael was an 1870’s Santa Clara Valley blackberry farmer and San Jose round house foreman for the narrow-gage South Pacific Coast steam Railroad, he was also a well known College Park dairyman.

Kay never had the chance to grow up with grandparents. Anna was struck and killed by a train while rounding up the family’s dairy cows. Just a few weeks later, Anna’s husband Michael, would pass away.

This tragedy would shape her life decades later when marrying Luciano Scamporrino in 1955. Both being raised by single working mothers, and with Lou’s father dying before his birth, together they vowed to start their family early and play an active role in their children’s and grandchildren’s lives.

Katie was a unique child who grew up near San Jose’s Japantown. She was a junior Native Daughter of the Golden West, a field hockey player, a musician and a dancer. She even performed on stage with the likes of John Agar and Lucille Ball at the San Jose Civic Auditorium.

Kay’s reputation as a trusted friend extended beyond her girlfriends and into the business community. As a teenager, she was an entrusted diamond courier for the downtown jewelry merchants.

Louie’s mother, Marianna Scamporrino, had still not recovered from her husband’s loss even years later until Kay walked into her life. Anna and Kay shared a special relationship that grew over the years. Before long, Kay had her out of the house, doing things no one could imagine. One being, spending all day in the rain in downtown San Jose just to get a glimpse of John F. Kennedy.

Her hard work always had a family goal. While serving as PTA president of Gardner Elementary by day, she would work nights on the San Jose Cannery’s filler line to save up for a home. A couple years later, they met that goal and moved to Santa Clara where she entered the school district’s food service program and later became the manager at Kathryn Hughes Elementary.

Kay’s greatest gift was her timeless friendships. She loved her outings with the Red Hat Society. Over the last 60 years, she continued to meet with her elementary school, high school and work friends every month, including weekly Bunco and Pinochle games.

Grandma Kay was also the keeper of family traditions and recipes. Holding true to her vow, she passed down her passion for card games, board games, knitting, cooking and candy making, all with detailed lessons to her grandchildren.

Katie was preceded in death by father, Clyde William Russell; San Jose natives: mother, Emily Russell, sisters: Madeline Jean Greenhalgh (Bob) and half-sister: Evelyn Collins (Jack)

She is survived by her husband, Louis Scamporrino; sister, Marge Cuffaro; daughter, Bridget Tracy (Tom); son, Dominic Scamporrino (Dorrie); granddaughters, Heather Lauren, Christina Scamporrino, Julia Tracy; grandsons, Geoffrey Tracy and David Scamporrino.