Vinnie Scott

Vinnie Scott

Vinnie Scott, Delaware's beloved sports legend, peacefully completed his last play on earth while tenderly holding his wife's hand on September 28, 2017. Vinnie was preceded in death by his loving parents, Vincent X. Scott and Marian Shavack Scott. He is survived by his soulmate, his wife, Deborah Larrimore Scott; daughter, Suzanne Scott Painter and husband, Brian and children, Leah, Jaime, Rachel, Brian, and Ashley, and twelve great-grandchildren; daughter, Stephanie Scott Antenucci and husband, John Drych, and son, Vincent Antenucci; Vinnie's son by marriage, Charles Larrimore Powers and wife Gwen, and daughters, Jillienne and Lauren Powers, and son Justin Kosikowski; Vinnie's daughter by marriage, Jacqueline Powers Corbin and husband Christopher Corbin, and daughter, Stella; brothers Kevin and Raymond Scott and sister-in-law Brenda Scott; nephew, Raymond Scott and wife, Deborah Scott, and children, Ally, Katelyn, Timmy; and niece, Jennifer Scott Vinci and husband, William, and sons, Billy and Ben.

Vinnie Scott's name is synonymous with sports. Starting with his days as a youngster at the Boys and Girls Club, Vinnie excelled in gymnastics as well as football, baseball, and basketball under his role model, Jimmy Hagan. At Salesianum, Vinnie achieved accolades in football, baseball, track, and basketball under the excellent coaching staff of priests and laymen. At the University of Maryland, Vinnie was the second college football player in America to kick three field goals in a single game when he split the uprights from 38, 41 and 48 yards for the University of Maryland Terrapins in 1959. The distance of the 48-yard boot set a new Atlantic Coast Conference record that stood until 1979. His talented toe and aggressive play as a defensive halfback earned him a spot with the Baltimore Colts. When the star-studded team traded him to the Washington Redskins, Vinnie instead decided to accept an offer to join the faculty and coaching staff at Salesianum. Post College he participated as an important contributor to the Brooks Armored Car Semi-Pro Championship teams in baseball, football, and basketball.

A sports writer once asked Vinnie how he felt about being a head coach, or assistant coach. Vinnie responded, "I began my career in 1961 and it has never mattered if I was the head coach, or the assistant, I love sports and enjoy working with kids." Vinnie was head basketball coach at Salesianum from 1964-1967; Conrad from 1969-1972; Glasgow from 1973-1979; and McKean from 1979-1980. He was head football coach at Delcastle from 1982-1989 and led the Cougars to victory in the 1987 Flight A Championship. As head coach of St. Marks from 1991-2004, he led the Spartans to the Division I State Finals in 1999, 2002 and 2003. Vinnie also served as an assistant coach in football and basketball at Salesianum, Conrad, Glasgow, Delcastle and St. Mark's. He was head coach of the Swim Team at Salesianum from 1961-1963, and head baseball coach there in 1967 after assisting from 1962-1966. Vinnie's philosophy of coaching was to inspire his players to focus on personal improvement within a team framework rather than wins and losses and to prioritize theirs lives and actions with "God first then Family, Education, Sports, and then Social life."

Vinnie was named Basketball Coach of the Year in 1972, and Blue Hen Conference Football Coach of the Year in 1987. He served as Athletic Director at Delcastle and Secretary of Blue Hen Conference Athletic Directors from 1986-1990. Vinnie compiled a record of 83-49-2 in 13 years at St. Mark's where he was the longest serving football head coach. His coaching career in Delaware spanned 45 years. He participated as a player and twice as a coach in the Delaware Blue/Gold Games. He was inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, for his athleticism and coaching and later into the Delaware Legends Basketball Hall of Fame.

As a Social Studies teacher and life-long learner, Vinnie was just a few credits shy of a doctoral degree. Students loved the innovative methods he used to teach social studies and always had great stories! He treated his students with dignity and respect and expected that they do the same, not only to him, but each other.

The family would like to thank the following medical/health care staff, and Hospice staff for providing the most loving care and respect while making Vinnie comfortable and as self- sufficient as possible: Dr. Carolyn Ianni and her staff, Dr. Lenny Edelsohn, Dr. Stephen Walker, Vin's nurse for research, Kathy; Hospice staff: Stephanie and Marjorie, Hospice nurses especially Lynn, Bruce, Mary Jo, and Deborah and the Hospice CNAs; Visiting Angels staff: Karen, Kim Bolden, and Heather Swartley; Home Instead: Gregg Baldwin; Private Care Personnel: Jonathan Wenk who became Vinnie's friend and helper for almost two years, Patrick Christopher, Sarah Richardson, Raquel Blandford, and Vinnie's granddaughter Jillienne Powers. His friends: The Salesianum Class of 1957, Dick Christopher, Tom Coder, Bill Legg, Marty Apostolico, Charlie Cox, and Vinnie's brother, Ray, who drove him to many Sallies sport's events, the ROMEOS, the Wednesday at Atillio's group, the Dynamiters, the Hall of Fame ceremonies, etc., and supported and cared for his safety when he was mobile. The family wishes to thank his many friends who visited him, wrote to him and called him regularly when Vinnie could no longer walk. All of you made Vinnie's journey happier and more comfortable, because you treated him like the athlete, coach, and teacher he had always been. THANK YOU!

In keeping with his credo of always making a difference, Vinnie chose to help others by donating his body to science. The family would like to acknowledge Science Care and the Parsell Funeral Home for their kindness and professionalism in assisting with Vinnie's request.

"A Celebration of Vinnie's Life" will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2017, at the Chase Center in the Riverfront Complex in Wilmington, Delaware. The ceremony will begin promptly at 10AM with light refreshments at the conclusion of the program.

Donations in Vinnie's name, in lieu of flowers, would be appreciated to the following organizations: The Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame, 801 Shipyard Drive, Wilm.DE 19801; Delaware Legends Basketball Hall of Fame, 8 Green Meadow Court, Newark, DE 19711; Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963; or the Boys and Girls Clubs, 669 South Union Street, Wilm., DE 19805.