Michael J. Scala, 51, of Pompton Lakes, passed away on August 26, 2022.
Michael was raised in Secaucus and lived in Pompton Lakes for the last 18 years. He earned his BA in Communications and Broadcasting from Montclair State University and served as their Director of Sports Publicity from 1999-2022. He was inducted into the Montclair State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019 and received the CoSIDA 25-year Award in 2020. Michael’s career also included professional sports, serving as the Deputy Crew Chief of Statisticians and Offensive Caller for the NY Jets. He was also part of the Stat Crew for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, a college football bowl game, at Yankee Stadium. He was known by his colleagues as having a vast knowledge of sports and a computer-like memory of facts and statistics, and for being a positive role model and mentor.
While at Montclair State, Michael met Jamie Spargo and the couple married in 2001. After settling in Pompton Lakes, Michael and Jamie welcomed three children into their growing family. Michael’s love for his career was unmatched only by the love and dedication he had for his wife, children, family and friends.
Michael is lovingly survived by his wife of almost 21 years, Jamie Scala; his beloved children, Jenna Marie, Michael John, and Joelle Morgan Scala; his parents, Robert and Marie Scala; his brothers, Robert Scala and his wife Toni Ann, and Joseph Scala and his wife Judy; his father in-law and mother in-law, John and Sue Spargo; his brother in-law, Justin Spargo and his wife Allyson; his sister in-law, Jennifer Spaldo and her husband Chris; his nieces and nephews, Tammy Jannicelli and her husband Robert, Robert Scala and his wife Bea, and Michelle Arriaga and her husband Kalven, Lindsay Powers and her husband Kyle, Christopher Scala, Michael Nelson, Addison Spargo, Jackson Spaldo, and Jordan Spaldo; and his great nephews, Michael and Robert Jannicelli.
Visiting hours will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 pm Tuesday, August 30 at the M. John Scanlan Funeral Home, Pompton Plains. A funeral service will be held 10:00 am Wednesday at the funeral home. Cremation will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Michael’s memory to Memorial Sloan Kettering would be greatly appreciated.