Nobody loved more or harder than he did.
When Scott walked into his parent’s house, he always announced himself with a loud, joyful, “Mama!” He was someone that happiness surrounded, brought on by his big smile and warm personality. He was the youngest of his family, and was loved deeply not only by his parents and siblings, Brian, and Jaclyn, but also by his extended family, his wife Maria’s family, and his small army of friends. In high school, he became the captain of the football, hockey, and baseball teams at the same time–not because he was a great player. It was because he was admired by teammates and coaches for his commitment. His peers respected him and trusted him to lead.
“Scott’s greatest skill was talking to people,” Terri shared. “He could talk to a perfect stranger and become friends in any situation. He was just a fun person to be around.”
Scott’s bottomless friendliness traveled with him around the world–to Ireland, Iceland, California, Nevada, Canada, and many more locations. Following his passing, comments on his obituary pages traced his friendships from all over.
Though he liked to travel, his “happy place” was always back in the States. When he was young, he and his family spent every summer in Ogunquit, Maine, with his grandparents. Later, he eloped there with his high school sweetheart, Maria. Though COVID delayed their church wedding until November 2021, it did not stop them from making plans for their future together. They planned a honeymoon trip to Italy, and future trips to England and Scotland. They were “doggy parents” to Teddy, an adorable Staffordshire Terrier, and dreamed of starting a family. Scott passed away before these dreams could become reality.
Scott struggled with addiction for about five years. At one point, it caused him to break off his engagement with Maria–not because he had stopped loving her, but because he thought he didn’t deserve her. He believed he couldn’t beat his addiction. He’d seen his brother Brian fight against the same disease twenty years earlier, but didn’t hold the same hope of overcoming it for himself.
“It really changed him,” Terri said. “The deception is the worst. The disease takes over the brain and everything else takes a backseat. Scott had acute anxiety that went hand-in-hand with substance use. He’d avoided actively using for so long, but something made him go back.”
In his later years, Scott shifted occupations from working in sales to helping people struggling with substance use. During his wake, people from his many support groups shared stories of how Scott had helped them through their darkest times. His loss was a shock, and a reality check.
“Losing my youngest to this disease is devastating,” Terri said. “I will never be the same person I was before I lost my son. I wish more people understood that this could happen to anyone in their circle–a brother, sister, aunt, uncle, teacher, businessperson, anyone.”
Terri is proud of Scott’s work, and continues on for him by supporting local fundraisers for those with substance use disorder. She also shared that Maria took those trips she had originally planned to take with Scott just this year– “Scott’s spirit was right there with her.”
Scott’s mother, Terri Stafford, and the eulogy written by his wife Maria Bianchi, provided the information for this narrative.
February 6, 1992-July 25, 2022–Age 30
Portrait Artist: Jeremy Hebbel
Narrative Writer: Angela Day
