Scarnati

Blase S. Scarnati, 72, of West Water Street, Slippery Rock, died at 9:47 a.m. Wednesday at Grove City Medical Center.

He was the long-time conductor of bands at Slippery Rock University.

Born April 10, 1935, in Brockway, he was the son of Samuel and Elizabeth F. Gallo Scarnati.

He married Mary L. Long June 8, 1957.

A professor at SRU, he retired in May 1996 after 32 years.

During his tenure at SRU, he was appointed conductor of university bands in the fall of 1964. He also taught jazz history, literature of the American musical theater and music history.

He received his Bachelor of Science degree in music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and was awarded a master's in music education degree from Duquesne University. He did graduate work toward a doctorate in education at Syracuse University.

He was the conductor of the famous Slippery Rock University Marching Rockets for 25 years and served as concert director and coordinator of the musical concert band as well. He has been music director for 16 university musicals, co-director for the annual "Dollars for Students Scholars Show" and served on numerous board of director committees for several collegiate events.

During the summer, he founded and conducted the musicians' concert band. This organization continues today and is comprised of the finest musicians in the region.

In 1982, he was honored by receiving the President's Award for Outstanding Service to the university. Phi Beta Mu, the National honorary Band Fraternity, honored him in May 1988 by selecting him as the Outstanding Bandmaster in Pennsylvania. Citations of congratulations were presented by then state Sen. Tim Shaffer and state Rep. Howard Fargo.

In October 2002, after presiding as grand marshal for the SRU Homecoming, the university's trustees honored him by naming the band rehearsal field the Blase S. Scarnati Marching Band Field. In December 2005, he was given the SRU President's Signature Circle Award in recognition for bringing music and joy to the hearts of thousands.

He was a member of St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church in Slippery Rock.

He served in the National Guard.

In addition to his wife at home, he is survived by two sons, Blase S. (Rebecca) Scarnati of Flagstaff, Ariz., and David A. (Lynn) Scarnati of Concord Township, Ohio; a daughter, Mary Beth (Dan) Bales of Grove City; a sister, Mary Jane (Paul) Lazoni of Brockway; and four grandchildren, Elizabeth, Sam, and Thomas Scarnati and Danielle Bales.

<B>SCARNATI</B> — Family of Blase S. Scarnati, who died Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2007, will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the <B>Smith Funeral Home</B>, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock.A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church in Slippery Rock.Burial will be in Slippery Rock Cemetery.Memorial contributions may be made to the Blase S. and Mary L.Scarnati Scholarship Fund, c/o Slippery Rock University Foundation, Room 100, Old Main, Slippery Rock, PA 16057.