Laura Scarpate

Biography Laura L. Scarpate Suntree Laura Leigh (Fisher) Scarpate, age 60, passed away at home surrounded by her family on Monday, January 18, 2010 after a valiant battle against ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Laura was born in East Cleveland, Ohio on February 25, 1949 and graduated from Grand Valley High School, Orwell, Ohio in 1967. She met her husband of 40 years at Ohio Northern University and traveled the world as a wife of an Air Force officer before completing her education degree at Arizona State University in 1987. She was also a member of Phi Kappa Phi, National Honor Society. In 1989 Laura and her family moved to Suntree from Glendale, Arizona where she continued her teaching career. She spent twenty years as a primary school teacher with 18 of those years at Suntree Elementary School before medically retiring in 2009. She loved being in the classroom and working with the wonderful faculty and staff at Suntree Elementary. In 2000 she proudly became a National Board Certified Teacher. Laura had a passion for teaching and shared her desire for learning with hundreds of school children in Tokyo, Japan, Peoria (Arizona) and the Brevard County School Districts. When not in the classroom, Laura enjoyed summers staying at bed and breakfast inns on the Maine coast and in the mountains of New Hampshire where she could be found kayaking and hiking. When time allowed, you could also find her quilting or reading. Laura is survived by her husband, Jerry of Suntree; two sons, Jason (Lindsay) Scarpate and their children, Caroline and John of Valdosta, Georgia,; Dr. Jeremy (Melissa)Scarpate and their daughter, Julia Catherine of Suntree; two sisters, Wynne (Gordon) Bogert and Kim Molnar of Ohio; father and mother-in-law, George and Louise Scarpate of Suntree; and a sister and brother-in-law, Jill and Frank Cramer of York, Pennsylvania. Laura was predeceased by a daughter, Jenica and sister, Nina (Ray) Holm, mother and father, Wayne and Mary Fisher. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the ALS Association, Hospice of Health First and her caregiver, Ebony who provided many hours of support and loving care. Laura was a very loving, caring, passionate, and devoted person who will be remembered as a wonderful wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, and friend. She will be greatly missed. A memorial gathering (celebration of life) will be held on Saturday, Janury 30th, 2009 at the Church at Viera, 9005 N. Wickham Rd., Viera, Florida beginning at 11:00 AM with a reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ALS Association, Florida Chapter, 3242 Parkside Center Cr. Tampa, FL 33619. Burial will be at the Fairview Cemetery in Arendtsville, Pennsylvania.