Obituary of Dr. H.J. Scarinzi

Hugo James Scarinzi passed away with family and friends by his side on December 31, 2015 “Doc”, as he was known, was born in New Rochelle, NY July 25, 1932 to Luigi and Maria (Selva) Scarinzi. He was raised in Lenox, Massachusetts and graduated from Lenox High School in 1950. He attended Duquesne University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and graduated in 1954 with a bachelors degree in Pharmacy. He continued his education at the Kansas City College of Osteopathy and Surgery, graduating in 1959 with a Doctorate Degree in Osteopathy. In 1959 he married June Marie Verchot and they moved to Denver where he did his internship at Rocky Mountain Osteopathic Hospital. In 1960 they moved to Arriba, Colorado and then to Hugo, Colorado where he practiced medicine in clinics in Hugo, Arriba and Flagler until he retired in 1996. During those 36 years of practicing medicine he touched many lives, in many ways. He was a trusted family physician, co-worker, and mentor; someone we all turned to for advice, which he gave freely. He loved the communities he worked in and the people he cared for. He was proud of his involvement in the community inside the hospital walls and outside of the hospital walls. He was blessed with three children, Maria, Meggan and Jonathan. He adored his two grandchildren Brian and Kayla. Doc’s hobbies included wood working and building toys for children; making cement picnic tables, bird baths and benches, many of which can be seen in the Hugo and surrounding communities. He also enjoyed making homemade wine and many people have great memories of his spaghetti and wine suppers. He loved history, especially World War II and he also loved stone masonry work, doing some mason work in Hugo and building several stone grotto’s. He also taught for Fort Morgan Community College and many of his students went on to become registered nurses, and a few of these nurses cared for him in his final years. He is preceded in death by June Scarinzi; his parents Luigi and Maria Scarinzi, his brother Silvio “Skip” Scarinzi and his beloved dogs Juneau and Mia. He is survived by his daughter Maria and husband Wayne Nestor; daughter Meggan and husband Josiah Nierman, son Jonathan Grant; granddaughter Kayla Nestor, grandson Brian Nestor, niece Teresa and husband Daniel Martin, niece Christina Scarinzi, nephew Paul and wife Heidi Scarinzi, nephew Mark Scarinzi, and many special friends.