Obituary of Dennis Cyril Scanlon

Dennis Cyril Scanlon, 70, of State College, died Thursday, April 2, 2015, at Foxdale Village, State College. Born February 17, 1945, in Pittsburgh, he was the son of the late Cyril Joseph and Virginia Williams Scanlon. On June 15, 1968, he married Janet Wadsworth who survives. Also surviving are three daughters, Sharon Minchak and her husband, Jeffrey, of Albuquerque, N.M., Erin Scanlon of State College and Susie Thomas and her husband, Jason, of Boalsburg; one sister, Linda Pischke and her husband, Michael, of Roseville, CA; four grandchildren, David, Thomas and Samantha Minchak and Joey Thomas. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, a brother in-law and sister in-law, many cousins, and his dear Aunt Lou. Dennis was a 1962 graduate of North Catholic High School. He received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Agricultural Education from Penn State University and his PhD in Agricultural Education from Ohio State University. He retired as Professor Emeritus in 2008 from Penn State University after 26 years of service. Before returning to Penn State as a professor in 1982, Dennis also held positions at Ohio State University and the University of Florida. During his early career, he taught vocational agriculture at Penn Cambria High School for six years and Admiral Perry High School for five years. The following words from of former students and a special colleague say it all: “Over the last 30 years, anyone associated with agricultural education in Pennsylvania knows and has been influenced by Dennis Scanlon. His dedication to the profession and its people was unsurpassed. It was his passion to see others become successful, and he worked tirelessly to make that happen. Working with young teachers, career teachers, graduate students, and colleagues, he showed them all how to find their own way with a unique blend of humor, insight, and unfailing kindness. His legacy with those who were blessed to work closely with him will live on through their memories and his eternal presence in shaping them to find their ways. Perhaps his greatest contribution to their professional and personal lives was an unyielding faith in them to do the right thing when it counted; his legacy is that they continue to try to do so, to be worthy of his efforts, to honor him, and to emulate him in the lives of their students—to be someone else’s Denny Scanlon.” Visitation will be from 5 until 8 p.m., on Thursday, April 9, 2015 at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 South Atherton Street, State College. Funeral service will be held at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church where Dennis was a parish member. The service will be at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, April 10, 2015, 820 Westerly Parkway, State College with the Reverend Neil Dadey officiating. Burial will be at Boalsburg Cemetery following the funeral. Memorial contributions in memory of Dennis can be made to the Dennis and Janet Scanlon Trustee Scholarship in the College of Agricultural Sciences, Office of Development, 240 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.