Alfred Scalise

Alfred Scalise, the husband of Shirley Scalise and the father of six daughters, went to the Lord on October 22nd at the age of 83. He was surrounded by his family who played the music he loved and held his hands as he made his transition.

He was born in Schenectady, New York on June 4, 1929, to Ralph and Filomena Scalise, one of four brothers. Frank was the oldest then Joseph, Fred and finally Ralph. His family moved to California when he was 15 and he lived in the state he loved for the rest of his life.

He met his beloved wife Shirley Beth on a blind date in 1954. They married shortly afterward and for the next 58 years they shared their lives with each other. They raised six beautiful daughters who filled up an entire pew at St. Didacus Catholic Church in Sylmar, CA where they lived until retiring to Sun Lakes in Banning, CA in 1999.

Fred was in the Army and the Air Force in his youth and after a first career in real estate found his calling at the Veteran's Hospital in Sylmar (until the earthquake in 1971) and Sepulveda, until he retired as the director of the Spinal Cord Injury Clinic in 1994 after 40 years of dedicated service.

His family was his most important achievement. His daughters: Mary Anne (Rick Seher), Antoinette (Greg Busch), Kathryn (Lee Vagatai), Joyce (Louis Gonzalez), Joanne (Bill O'Connell) and Teresa (Michael Rocha) were raised in the Catholic faith, knowing that they were loved by God and by their parents.

Fred and Shirley often took their children camping at Carpinteria State Beach, first in a tent, then a trailer and finally in a motorhome. His children still gather every year in the summer for a week of vacation to remember their childhood and to show their children and grandchildren the summers they experienced.

His grandchildren Richard and Erin Seher, Monica and Julianne Busch, Rob and April Coulter, Gina Oshiro, Chris and Michael Gonzalez, Kelly and Christine O'Connell and Cameron Rocha were fortunate to have a Grandpa and Grammy who attended as many recitals, performances and graduations as they possibly could.

His great-grandchildren Konrad and Lillian Seher, Aidan Coulter-Glantz, Kaylin Milam and Logan Gonzalez were all able to sit in Great-Grandpa's lap and experience the warmth and love that was Fred.

Fred Scalise never, ever changed a diaper. But he changed the lives of many. If you were fortunate enough to know him you were blessed. His love was pure and his sense of humor was unparalleled.

Fred came from an Italian family and lifestyle. When he came home after a long day at work, the amazing smell of Italian food would be wafting through the air to welcome him. That was just one of the things that made him happy.

Fred will be missed every single day by his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be remembered as a man who wanted the best for his family, the bigger the better. There was not a selfish bone in his body.

Every single night of his married life he said a prayer with his wife. "God Bless Us, God Bless All Our Kids, and I Love You".

Faith will carry you through life. It carried Fred and Shirley through the lives of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. All they wanted was for them to be happy and healthy. They achieved their dream.

Memorial service Saturday, November 3, 2012, at 1:00 PM, at Weaver Mortuary, 1177 Beaumont Avenue, Beaumont, California. Burial will follow at a later date at Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, California.

Arrangements were entrusted to Weaver Mortuary, Beaumont, California.