It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Louis J. Scavo (b. Jan. 1, 1936, d. Aug. 24, 2023), beloved husband of 54 years to Susan; beloved father to Michael, his wife Kim and their sons, Dylan and Justin; beloved father to Ellen Ram and her daughters, Alexandria and Laci; beloved brother to Albert (d. 2012); beloved brother to Annie and her husband Robert Farkas, and their son, Jeremy, and his wife, Lauren Wright.
Lou was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Frank C. Scavo and Jemma Ferrentino Scavo.
He was a loyal Brooklyn Dodgers fan, a champion high school runner and one of his favorite activities was playing stickball on the street after Sunday mass.
Louie received a master’s in Theology from the University of Louvain and was ordained a priest in 1962. He served in St, Francis of Assisi in Queens, N.Y., taught at Cathedral High School and was a curate at St. Jude’s in Canarsie.
In 1969, Lou, choosing a different path, left the priesthood and became a social worker in the Division of Youth and Family Services for the State of New Jersey. That same year he married the love of his life, Susan Ostrowski.
Lou continued as a social worker in the prison system of New Jersey and in 1990 was appointed chief of The Bureau of County Services. He retired from that position in 2000.
Lou was ever vigilant in protecting the rights of prisoners and developed a training program for guards and staff to prevent suicides in prison. He fought against overcrowding and was always concerned with improving living conditions and with the dignity of the prisoners assigned to his care.
After retiring, Lou and Sue fell in love with the Adirondacks and moved to a log cabin in Ausable Acres in Jay, N.Y.
While enjoying his retirement in the mountains, Lou volunteered for Mercy Care and the Office of the Aging. He was a lector, Eucharistic minister and member of the church council at St. Margaret’s in Wilmington.
Lou’s passions included woodworking and his Garden Railway, which he loved sharing with the neighborhood children.
In 2023, Lou and Sue moved to a retirement community in Chardon.
Lou’s funeral mass will be at held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at the Church of St. Mary, 401 North St., Chardon. The mass will be live streamed for those unable to attend the service. You can view by going to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jPihDA9RQo or go to Lou’s obituary on the Burr Funeral Home website and click the WATCH LIVESTREAM tab.
Arrangements made by Burr Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Chardon. Information and condolences online at www.burrservice.com.
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