IN MEMORY OF Joseph "Joe" L. Scarpaci, Jr. Blacksburg, Virginia January 13, 1955 - December 30, 2023 Joe's obituary Joseph L. Scarpaci, Jr., 68, of Blacksburg, Virginia, left this earth on December 30, 2023 due to a sudden onset of illness. Scarpaci, a proud Pittsburgh native, was born to Italian-American parents on January 13, 1955, where he grew up in a loving and vibrant family including three siblings and more than a dozen cousins. A true child of the 1960s, he carried an inimitable free-spiritedness and curiosity forward throughout his life, opening worlds to people they never knew existed. Inspired by his father’s produce company and the people, tales and locales behind each delivery, he pursued a path in academia that focused on uncovering the uniqueness of place. Scarpaci received his bachelor’s (Rutgers University), master’s (Pennsylvania State University) and a Ph.D. (University of Florida) in geography and was a repeat recipient of the Fulbright Award. He married his college sweetheart and life partner of 47 years, Gilda Machin-Scarpaci. Together, they built a life rich in love and reinvention, from the Chilean Andes and the beaches of Puerto Rico to the Iowa plains and mountains of southwest Virginia; and, raised two children, Cristina and Michael. Fatherhood was Scarpaci’s greatest joy, shepherding his children to piano lessons, on bike rides, and charting sailing trips around the world with equal enthusiasm. He delighted in his recent role as ‘papa’ to his first grandchild, Josephine “Josie” Collier. Scarpaci, professor emeritus at Virginia Tech, taught and researched at the institution in the fields of geography, historic preservation and Latin America for nearly 20 years (1989-2008). He established the cultural exchange and study abroad programs to Chile and Cuba, a pursuit he continued with his organization the Center for the Study of Cuban Culture and Economy. He was preparing to take a group on his nearly 100th trip to Cuba at the time of his passing. Throughout his career, he authored, co-authored and edited numerous scholarly publications; served as a trusted dissertation advisor to many; and, received recognitions and honorary positions for his contributions to the field including from the Association of American Geographers, the American Library Association, the Conference of Latinamericanist Geographers, the Jacques M. May Theses Prize, Phi Beta Kappa, the Library of Congress and Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, among others. Endlessly curious, he traveled to and explored cultures around the world, living in Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Chile, Argentina and Denmark, and summiting mountains from the Himalayas to the Appalachians. He curated a milieu of passions and hobbies including cycling, yoga and yoga instruction, tennis, bird watching, ESL and Spanish instruction, conservation and was an active volunteer with immigrants in his community. Scarpaci is survived by his wife Gilda Machin-Scarpaci; children Cristina Scarpaci (Christopher Collier), Michael Scarpaci (Katie Scarpaci); granddaughter Josephine Amelia Collier; siblings Darlene Violetta (Bradley Violetta), Josette Scarpaci and Sam Scarpaci; and, beloved cousins and relatives. He is preceded in death by his adoring parents Joseph L. Scarpaci, Sr. and Josephine Cicero Scarpaci; grandparents Thomas Scarpaci, Josephine Scarpaci, Anna Spalla, Ann Cicero and Sam Cicero; and, aunts and uncles, who welcome him to the next life with a Cuban cigar, cold martini and Frank Sinatra on the record player. His family will convene a celebration of life in Blacksburg this spring. Subscribe to this page for updates as plans develop. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the Josie Scarpaci Breast Health Access Fund (see memorial gifts page for more information). Namaste. SHARE THIS OBITUARY WITH OTHERS https://everloved.com/life-of/joseph-scarpaci/obituary/ obit
|
