Vera Mimi Scanlon

Vera Mimi Scanlon (nee Girardon), of the Township of Washington passed away peacefully on March 8, 2020. Vera was born May 24, 1933 to Mimi Carmignato and Giovanni Girardon, at her paternal grandmother’s home in Venice Italy.

According to family lore, Giovanni, a Venetian banker watched Mimi perform at La Scala Opera House and fell instantly in love with the exotic soprano. In 1921, Giovanni moved to New York when he was appointed Vice President of the Italian Discount Bank. Mimi arrived later that year, under contract to perform at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York.

Giovanni and Mimi prospered in New York, eventually moving into a beautiful home on the Hudson in Grandview, New York. It is there where Vera’s older sister, Gloria Mimi was born in 1928. The stock market crash and Depression devastated Giovanni’s business and consumed the family’s savings. A few years later, a devastating fire destroyed their home and possessions, prompting the family to return home to Venice. Shortly thereafter, Vera was born in the home of her grandmother, Emma Girardon Rigobon.

After Vera's birth, Giovanni returned to New York in an attempt to rebuild the life he and Mimi had created. In 1934, Mimi returned with Gloria and Vera, moving into the home of a friend in Teaneck, NJ. Later that year, Vera’s younger sister Maria was born.

Vera grew up in both New Jersey and New York, making friends wherever she lived. Her fondest memories were of summers in Belmont, Vermont at the home of her childhood best friend, Maureen Drescher. In Belmont, the two young girls enjoyed swimming, hanging out at Star Lake, and square dancing with the local boys. Her memories of Vermont with Maureen are among her happiest.

Vera lived life with enormous enthusiasm, curiosity and passion. Twice voted “All Around Girl” in school, her many loves included dancing, reading, singing, movies and theater. Vera also enjoyed playing basketball, stick ball and other now unknown New York street games. Her favorite sport was baseball and her devotion to the Brooklyn Dodgers was legendary.

After graduating from Blessed Sacrament High School, Vera attended St. Lawrence University, where she studied speech and theater. After two years at St. Lawrence, Vera transferred to Hunter College in Manhattan, which better suited her larger than life personality. She continued to hone her acting skills in Hunter’s innovative program, performing in the plays of Ibsen, Eugene O'Neill, Moss Hart and Arthur Miller. Shortly after transferring to Hunter, Vera joined Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. She loved going to dances, following the Dodgers, listening to Sinatra, discussing movies and fighting over Montgomery Clift with her sorority sisters.

While in college Vera lived with her parents in Manhattan and continued to hang out with her old neighborhood pals, including Barbara O’Donnell, George Radice and a new guy, just back from a soul-searching western adventure, Jack Scanlon. Jack won Vera over with his love of music, travel and baseball and they were soon dating. When Jack magnanimously congratulated Vera when her Dodgers beat his Yankees in the 1955 World Series, the deal was sealed. John Jay Scanlon and Vera Mimi Girardon were married in New York on Feb. 2, 1957. Shortly thereafter Barbara O’Donnell married George Radice and a life-long traveling quartet was born.

Vera, Jack, Barbara and George traveled the world. They drove cross country and cruised through Alaska and Europe. They rode camels in Morocco, ice skated on sketchy lakes, stood in awe of the Grand Canyon, and marveled at the Alps. They travelled to Venice, where Vera visited the site of her birth and stood beside her grandparents’ grave. She met long-lost cousins, who welcomed her into their lives and their hearts, and gave her a deeper appreciation of her Venetian heritage.

Vera and Jack eventually settled in Washington Township, NJ, where they raised their girls, Debbie and Julie, and spent the rest of their lives. Shortly after arriving in town, Vera began her lifelong membership in the Contemporary Woman’s Club. Throughout the years she held multiple offices in the club, including President and Vice President. As Chair of the Literature and Drama Department Vera directed, staged and performed in musicals, dramas and original revues with her fellow ‘actors’. Vera loved every second, the quintessential “Auntie Mame.”

When Debbie and Julie attended elementary school at Our Lady of Good Counsel, Vera directed the Drama Club. She was also instrumental in founding the Our Lady of Good Counsel Players, an acting group for adult parishioners. Young and old alike caught the drama bug from Vera’s infectious spirit, enthusiasm and energy.

In addition to raising her daughters, and her involvement with the community, Vera had a twenty year career as a Personnel Director with Federated Department Stores. After retiring, she continued to work with the Woman’s Club on their many charitable causes. Of course, she also continued to pursue new interests. At 60, Vera took up tap dancing and performed, along with two friends and a class of toddlers, in the annual recital of Sandra’s School of Dance.

Vera was always seen as larger than life. She was defined by passion, childlike enthusiasm, joy in discovery, and laughter. Her contagious vitality, energy and humor inspired colleagues, students and friends. During these last few months of devastating illness, Vera has shown amazing strength and resilience. She is and was so many things, but above all else she wanted to be remembered as “a marvelous dancer with a terrific sense of humor.”

Vera was predeceased by her beloved husband of 57 years, Jack, her dear sisters Gloria Girardon, Maria Milin and husband Victor. She was also predeased by her beloved brothers-in-law, Jimmy, Jerry, and Bobby Scanlon and sisters-in-law, Stella, Margaret and Pat. Also predeceased by cherished friend George Radice and his son George Carter Radice. Vera is survived by her adored daughters, Debbie Scanlon and Julie Scanlon Young; her devoted sons-in-law, Tom Rooney and Craig Young; her granddaughter, “the joy of her life”, Sophia Scanlon Young; and her eternal best friend Barbara Radice. Also surviving are treasured nieces and nephews, Anthony, Victor, Laura and Greg Milin, and Eileen, Cindy, Roberta, Glenn, Brian, Karen and Kevin Scanlon, and Michelle and Michael Radice, all of whom had profound love and respect for their Aunt Vera. Funeral mass on Thurs. March 12 at 11:30 am at Our Lady of Good Counsel R. C. Church, Twp of Washington. Interment will follow in George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday Marwww.becker-funeralhome.com.ch 11 from 2-4 & 7-9pm at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Rd., Westwood NJ