Armand Allen Scala

Armand was born April 16, 1941, in Alberta, Canada, to Romanian parents. As his father was a Romanian Orthodox priest, the family moved over the next 20 years to various parishes in Nebraska, Michigan and Massachusetts. In 1960 the family moved to Washington, D.C. where his father was the founding priest at Holy Cross Romanian Orthodox Church in Alexandria. After serving as an exhibit guide with the U.S. Information Agency in Romania in 1963, Armand completed his B.A. in Government and Political Science at American University in 1965 and completed post-graduate studies in International Finance. From there he pursued a successful career in finance and investment, beginning his own firm in 1982.

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990 and the end of the Ceausescu regime activated Armand's strong affection for Romanians and Romania. He founded the Congress of Romanian Americans (CORA) in 1991, whose purpose was to assist Romania in its integration into the Western alliance. As President of CORA he was instrumental in pressing Congress and the Clinton and Bush administrations, ultimately successfully, to support Romania's admission to NATO. At the same time he was a cofounder of the Central and Eastern European Coalition (CEEC), representing 18 ethnic organizations and over 22 million Americans, with the purpose of pushing American policymakers to an unwavering commitment to, and sustained engagement with, the newly free countries of that region. Additionally, Armand served as the vice president of the Romanian American Chamber of Commerce. For his untiring efforts he received numerous awards, including the National Order of Merit, rank of Commander, from the President of Romania in 2004.

Throughout his life he was a passionate supporter of the Orthodox community in Washington, D.C. He was a founding member in 1991 of St. Mary's Orthodox Church in Falls Church, Virginia, serving many years as Council President. He sang with both the church's choir and the Pan Orthodox Madrigal Choir of Washington, which performed at the White House, Kennedy Center, Supreme Court and the National Cathedral. In 1975 he was founder and president of the Festival of Choirs, representing 25 local Orthodox parishes. During the past 20 years he has brought numbers of Romanian choirs and other cultural groups to the United States. In all of his endeavors, his generosity of spirit, sense of diplomacy, and good humor came through and endeared him to many.

Armand is survived by his wife of 45 years, Christina Y. Scala of McLean, Virginia; their son, Armand A. Scala II; his sister, Antoinette Scala Robertson and her husband, Thomas B. Robertson; his stepbrother, Rudolph W. Ficken, Jr. and his wife, Jill; a nephew, Thomas G. Robertson and niece, Elizabeth R. Wallar.

Visitation will be Saturday evening, October 8 at Joseph Gawler's Sons Funeral Home, 5130 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Washington, DC, from 6 to 8 p.m. and at St. Mary's Orthodox Church in Falls Church, Virginia on Sunday, October 9 from 6 to 8 p.m., with a memorial service at 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at St. Mary's Orthodox Church, 7223 Roosevelt Ave., Falls Church, Virginia, on October 10 at 11 a.m., with interment to follow at Columbia Gardens Cemetery in Arlington.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary's Orthodox Church in Armand's memory.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary's Orthodox Church in Armand's memory.

Arrangements entrusted to Joseph Gawler's Sons Inc., Washington, DC.