Michael Anthony Scalzo

Michael Anthony Scalzo was born January 21, 1989, in Neenah, Wisconsin to Mark and Michele Scalzo. When he was 6 weeks old, his family moved to Tucson, Arizona. Less than two years later, his brother Tim was born and the two became fast friends. Mike attended Miss Connie’s Preschool.
Then the family transferred to Alpharetta, Georgia in 1992, where Mike attended Mt. Pisgah Preschool. In 1994, Nico was born and Mike was once again a big brother. That same year he entered kindergarten at New Prospect Elementary. In October 1994, we moved, this time overseas to Buenos Aires, Argentina and lived in two suburbs, La Lucia and San Isidro Chico. He attended the bilingual American school there, Escuela Lincoln. Another transfer brought us back to the U.S. to Aiken, South Carolina where he finished second grade at Chucker Creek Elementary School. He attended third grade at Aiken Preparatory School, and yet another transfer brought our family to Southlake, Texas. Mike began his Southlake years at Rockenbaugh Elementary School and was fortunate to be in the Carroll School District until he graduated from Carroll Senior High.
Mike’s favorite subjects in school were math, science and fine arts. His 5th grade teacher introduced him to his life-long love of card playing which started with the Bridge Club. In middle school, Mike enjoyed Drama Club and began his love of Odyssey of the Mind, a creative problem solving competition. Mike also began playing the euphonium in middle school, a love that carried into high school. Mike was in first band both his Junior and Senior years. His exchange trip to Tring, England, was a highlight of his band experiences. He also played in the marching band, where all four years they marched to the state final game. The Band Kids credit the excellent team spirit of the band for the Carrol Dragons success in winning three state championships in a row.
Mike’s Odyssey of the Mind (OM) team also won three state championships in a row, which earned them trips to OM World Finals at the University of Colorado, Boulder in 2005, Iowa State University in 2006, and Michigan State University in 2007, where they earned an impressive third place finish.
Mike attended Baylor University, in Waco, with a Presidential Scholarship, majoring in computer science. During his Junior year he transitioned back to Southlake to attend the University of Texas at Arlington. He studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain the summer before his Senior year. Mike eventually changed his major to economics and graduated with honors in 2012. He then decided to earn a masters degree in economics, staying at UTA where he was also a teaching assistant. He received his masters in May 2014, and later that summer moved to Houston with some of his best friends to pursue job interests.
In January 2015, Michael was diagnosed with cancer which began the courageous battle in which he never lost hope. At this time when Mike discovered his true calling, being a care giver. He planned to return to school to pursue a degree in nursing when he was cancer free. Mike often expressed gratitude for the many doctors and nurses who cared for him on his journey and inspired him to want to help others.
Michael went to meet his Heavenly Father on November 12, 2016 when he died peacefully at home surrounded by his family and beloved pet Giselle. We can now be assured that he is with Jesus and is free from pain and sickness.
He is survived by his parents Mark and Michele Scalzo, his brothers Timothy Vincent Scalzo (25) and Nicholas Allan Scalzo (22). He is also survived by his maternal Uncles Marshall Mueller (Pekin, IL), Tom (Shawn) Mueller (Clinton, IL), Jess (Robin) Mueller (Washington, IL), and Mark (Gertie) Wright (St. Charles, IL), a paternal Uncle Kris Scalzo (New Berlin, WI) and maternal Aunt Garette (Rick) Coleman (Racine, WI), and his cousins Andrew Scalzo (New Berlin, WI), Kristin Scalzo (Washington, D.C.), Mason Mueller (Pekin, IL), Hunter Mueller (Clinton, IL) and Addison and Delaney Mueller (Washington, IL).
He is also survived by his paternal grandparents Steve and Jean Scalzo (Waukesha, WI) and maternal step grandmother Jean Mueller (Decatur, IL).
He was preceded to heaven by his maternal grandfather Carl Mueller (Decatur, IL) and maternal grandmother Dee Wright (Menasha, WI).
Mike’s passion was playing Magic, a game at which he was masterful. He loved spending time with his friends, watching pro football, and his team the Green Bay Packers, teaching his rescue “pupper” Giselle new tricks; he was an avid board game player.
The Scalzo family has requested that any friends who so desire should send memorial contributions to the TWU Foundation, P.O. Box 425618, Denton, TX 76204 to benefit students in the college of nursing. Michael wanted to pay tribute to the type of people who helped and cared for him so much.
The Viewing and Visitation will be held Thursday, November 17 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Lucas Funeral Home, 700 W. Wall St., in Grapevine, TX.
The Funeral Service will be held on Friday, November 18 at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel (2nd floor) at Fellowship Church, located at 2450 TX-121, in Grapevine, TX.
Burial will be at Roselawn Memorial Park, in Denton, TX.