GLOUCESTER – Joseph P. “Joe Gray” Scola, 89, passed away peacefully Thursday September 6, 2012 in the Addison Gilbert Hospital with his family by his side. He married the love of his life, Virginia V. “Ginny” (Swanson) Scola, who died in September of 2009. They had shared 62 years of marriage.
Born to a large family of ten in Gloucester on October 17, 1922, he was the son of the late Gaetano and Josephine (Pallazola) Scola. Joe started fishing from an early age with all of his brothers on the family vessel “Rosemarie.” He was the engineer and also the cook. After a life of fishing he retired and worked at the Gloucester House Restaurant as a prep cook.
Joe loved playing cards and cribbage with his many friends at the St. Peter’s Club. He also enjoyed going dancing with Ginny, being with his grandchildren and cooking his famous pasta and meatballs for all the family cookouts. An avid sports fan, he loved all the New England teams, especially the Boston Red Sox, and was overjoyed with all the recent championships.
He is survived by his son, Thomas C. Scola and his companion, Charlene King of Gloucester; daughter and son-in-law, Mary Ann and Richard Anderson of Hampton, NH; his granddaughter, Hannah, wife of Anthony Spinnelli and grandson, Jeffrey Anderson of Hampton, NH. He was also predeceased by his brothers, Thomas, Sam, Jerome and Paul Scola; sisters, Rose Frontiero and Stephanie Spinola; sister-in-law, Gloria Swanson and brothers-in-law, Richard and Harold Swanson. He will be sadly missed by all.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday in the Holy Family Parish, St. Ann Church at 10:30 a.m. Visiting hours will be held Sunday afternoon in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester from 2 to 5 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Interment will be held at Calvary Cemetery.