MAY 4, 2016

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How do you sum up a person who has been influential in just about every facet of your life? To me, my grandfather was more than a grandfather. When we hit the toughest time of our lives, he and my grandmother immediately stepped in to help raise my brothers and I, without even skipping a beat. They picked us up from school every day, drove me to work, practice, wherever, and never complained once. He was always there when we needed him and there's so much that I owe to him. 

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I have always been proud to be his grandson and always felt so much honor in introducing myself as "Sal Scozzari's grandson." He taught me so much and I'm so thankful that I had him in my life for as long as I have. He was tough, funny, loving, organized, ridiculous and until the day I die and he greets me at the gates of heaven, I will always be thankful to be his grandson. 

 

He wasn't one to say, "I love you," but it was always understood and never, ever questioned. One special moment was in 2006. After having an emergency appendectomy, I spent 4 days in the hospital. On the third full day I was there, I was finally able to get a good nights sleep and slept well into the late morning and possibly early afternoon. When I woke up, the first and only person I saw was my grandfather. He was sitting at the foot of my bed, quietly, and gently touching my leg. I said, "Gramp, what are you doing here?" He looked up at me and just said, "I didn't want you to be alone." That's the kind of man he was. 

 

I still cannot believe I'm even writing this because it seems so surreal... He was always so strong and always went out of his way to help everyone and these last months have been incredibly hard but it was a blessing to be able to say our goodbyes as he lived out his final days. 

 

Rest in peace, Gramp. I love you, I miss you and I'll do my best to always honor your memory and bring dignity and respect to our family name for the rest of my life.