Jere A Scola

Jere Scola, 95, passed away on Friday, December 30, 2011 at Apple Rehab-The Clipper in Westerly, RI. Jere's wife, Shirley (Littlewood) Scola, predeceased him in 1993, while they were on a Christian tour of the Holy Land. Jere was born January 14, 1916 in Worcester, Massachusetts to Angelo and Nunziata (Ritacco) Scola. He was one of their twelve children, Camela Ravelli, Dr. Joseph Scola, Sophie Vuona, Attorney Franklin Scola, Marie Scola, Eleanor Scola, Loretta Calo, William Scola, Attorney John Scola and Judge Robert Scola, who have all predeceased him. Jere is survived by his and Shirley's four children, Jere Scola, Jr. of Colorado Springs, CO, Nancy King of Boca Raton, FL and Watch Hill, RI, Bruce Scola of Exeter, NH and Vicki Papagni of Houston, TX and Westerly, RI. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren and six great grandchildren. After graduating from Worcester Academy in 1937, he attended Northeastern University Law School and Clark University. Jere was a member of the National Guard. Jere's first business venture was in the 1940's as owner of Yum Yum Products in Worcester. He was later employed by Southwest Petroleum, a Texas company. He sold petroleum products to contractors in the Northeast and New York. They called him "Cactus" because he wore a Stetson hat. Jere and his wife, Shirley, owned Scola and Scola Real Estate and represented Mackel Brothers, General Development and G.L. and H.J. Gross, all major Florida developers. In 1959 Jere was a Parks Commissioner for the City of Worcester and in 1961 he was the area Softball Commissioner for Central Massachusetts. Jere and Shirley sold local real estate in Worcester for twenty years prior to retiring to Fort Lauderdale, FL and Watch Hill, RI. Before entering the Clipper Nursing Home in Westerly, RI, Jere lived on Crandall Avenue in Misquamicut, RI. He grew up attending Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Worcester. Calling hours for Mr. Scola will be held on Wednesday, January 4, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. in MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester. His Funeral will be held on Thursday, January 5, with a Mass at 10:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 24 Mulberry Street, Worcester. Entombment will follow in Saint John's Mausoleum.