Obituary of Andrew Stephen Scabavea

ANDREW STEPHEN SCABAVEA of Littleton Colorado, was born on July 11, 1932, at Mount Vernon, Ohio, and passed away in his sleep with his family sleeping immediately next to him early Sunday morning on February 19, 2023.  He was 90 years old, or 90 years young if you would ask him.  He was a very loving, caring, and compassionate individual who loved his family more than anything else.  He grew up in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania in a very modest household with his mother Esther, his father Stephen, and his two sisters Helen and Katherine.   Throughout his childhood he worked for his father’s painting company.  He attended Aliquippa High School where he formed his own gymnastics team with his three best friends.  The head coach of the varsity football noticed his gymnastics performance and immediately invited him to be on the varsity football team where he started as wide receiver opposite to a future NFL wide receiver.  During his senior year he was selected to play in the all-star game and scored the only touchdown for the East.  After graduating high school, he worked at the Aliquippa steel mill which was a very dangerous job at the time.  Before being selected in the draft, Andy voluntarily enlisted in the United States Air Force.  Beginning as an Air Force aircraft mechanic, he was soon selected for Officer Candidate School where, upon graduation, he became a rated Air Force pilot flying the C-119. He also became a rising star in as a supply officer.  Andy served a year and half tour in Vietnam.  After serving more than 21 honorable years in active duty, he retired at the rank of Major - - an accomplishment for what he is most proud.  After serving as a combat veteran, he attended Southern Illinois University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy.  Andy then worked for Booz Allen Hamilton where he worked in Tehran, Iran alongside retired Admirals and Generals selling F-14s to the Shah right before the revolution.   He then worked for Martin Mariettaa where he was the senior production manager for the MX thermonuclear weapons missile project.  He worked for Martin Mariettaa for twelve years before permanently retiring.  Throughout his life Andy enjoyed skiing, hiking, gambling, especially poker and craps, singing, and sharing his philosophy of life - - but most of all, he enjoyed spending his time with his family.  He was also very compassionate to animals, and on various occasions, he would see a stray dog and bring it into his household.   Andy is survived by his legacy of his loving wife Shirley Scabavea; his children Vicki (Charles) Lynch, Kathleen Hughes, and Mark Scabavea; his grandchildren Brandt (Kelly) McCarville, Nicole (Jeremy) Paul, Rachel McCarville, Stephanie Hughes; and his great grandchildren Ella Paul, Makensie McCarville, Declan McCarville, Brogan McCarville, and Eli Paul. 

The authors of this obituary are deeply saddened and shocked by the loss of Andy, they were not ready for it.  His funeral will occur at the Chapel at Aspen Mortuary on March 6, 2023, at 11:00 followed by Military Honors as Fort Logan.   

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Andy may be made to the Wounded Warriors or Tunnel to Towers Foundations.