Dr. Paul Scagnelli, son of the late Julia and Paul Scagnelli, Sr., died on January 16 at the Hock Family Center.
Paul was born in 1932 in Bronx, NY and grew up in Mt. Vernon, NY. After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1953, he attended graduate school at Cornell University. From 1955 to 1959, Paul worked in Saudi Arabia as a Personnel Analyst for the Arabian American Oil Company. For the next two years he served as personnel manager for Peterbilt Motor Co. in Newark, California.
In 1962 Paul became a Ph.D. candidate in clinical psychology at Duke University. After receiving his doctorate, he did a postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University and the VA hospital in Durham, NC, and an internship at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center in Chapel Hill, NC.
He was awarded the Wallach Award in 1967 as the outstanding Psychology Intern at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He received the Distinguished Teaching Fellowship, 1967-1968, from Duke’s Psychology Department, where he taught courses in child development.
Paul’s professional life in Durham as a psychologist included: directing the Durham County Mental Health Outpatient Clinic, conducting individual and group psychotherapy, mental evaluations for Disability Determination Services and psychological testing, managing a Crisis and Suicide program, and working with patients in an Alcoholic Rehabilitation Center. For seven years Dr. Scagnelli taught graduate and undergraduate courses at North Carolina Central University as an Associate Professor of Psychology.
His family, tennis and writing gave him much pleasure. He was a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Croasdaile Village Retirement Community has been his home since 2006.
Paul leaves behind his wife, Elaine Fitch Scagnelli of Durham, his daughter, Alaina Elliott and her husband Ed Elliott of Durham, his son, Marc Scagnelli of Cary; three grandchildren, Ryan Johnson, Austin Johnson, and Nicholas Johnson; and siblings, James Scagnelli, Lorraine Rossi and Jean Caruso.
A memorial service will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, January 20. A reception will follow in Johnson Hall.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made either to The Croasdaile Village Benevolent Fund, 2600 Croasdaile Farm Parkway, Suite 500-A, Durham, NC 27705, or St Luke’s Church Memorial Fund, 1737 Hillandale Rd., Durham 27705 or to the charity of your choice.
Annette Myers
Elaine, I am so sorry to hear about Paul. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Joseph P. Dempsey
As a former graduate student of Dr. Scagnelli at NCCU, my thoughts and prayers are with you during this period of loss.
Rev. Dr. Joseph P. Dempsey
Ginny Buckner
Dear Elaine,
On behalf of the entire Duke MAT Program, I want to offer our sincerest sympathy to you and your family at this sad time. May your memories comfort you through the coming months.
Love,
Ginny and Felisha
Louie Ross
My sincere thoughts and prayers go out to the Scagnelli family. Dr. Paul Scagnelli was one of the kindest, most helpful, and encouraging professors in the Psychology Department at NCCU. I thank God and you for sharing him with us.
Mieke J??bsis
Dear Elaine,
We are so sorry to hear that Paul passed away. Our deepest sympathies to you during this most difficult time.
Take care,
Mieke, Larry, Sarah Grace & Annalies
Terry & Wayne Hoernke
Dear Elaine, Alaina, Marco and families,
Wayne and I wanted to express our sympathies for the passing of your beloved husband and father. I know that you all will take strength from being together and remembering the great life that he lived and how much he gave to you all and so many others. We know that you will miss him so much. But are also relieved that he is in a better place free from pain and worry. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Terry and Wayne
Judith Goodhand
Elaine,the best and biggest words I know can’t express how much I would like to help you to laugh in the coming days. May God bless you and all of your familly and friends
Donna Martin
My Prayers Are With You And Your Family.My God Bless You.
Donna Martin
My Prayers Are With You And Your Family.My God Bless You.
William and Sandy
I am so sorry to hear of Paul’s death. Sandy and my deep felt condolences to all of you. I am sorry we were so out of contact during our stay in Durham, but our thoughts and best wishes are with you.
I remember Paul as a very kind and compassionate person and know he will be deeply missed.
Much love,
William and Sandy
Bill Gutknecht
I will truly miss him.
Laurie Warrick Herman
I am sorry to hear of Mr. Scagnelli’s passing. My mother formerly Patsy Adams of Durham and he were friends. Although they lost contact, I clearly remember him from childhood, as do my sisters. I recall him being a delightful, fascinating, and kind man who was particularly interested in people and their well being. We are all saddened to hear of his passing. My condolences go out to his loved ones.
Marilyn Dempsey-Starkes
Please accept my condolences on the death of Dr. Scagnelli. May your memories give you strength. At NCCU, he was one of my most interesting professors. God Bless