Anthony J. Scantlen Ph.D

Dr. Anthony James Scantlen, Ph.D, died June 30, 2024, at Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora, IL, with his loving wife of 48 years, Dr. Stephanie Rusnak, Ph.D, at his side. Tony was born in Tamaha, OK, as the only child of James Russell Scantlen and Eunice Ford Scantlen. He graduated from Stigler High School in Stigler, OK.
After high school, his family moved to California, where he earned an associate's degree at Los Angeles City College. His lifelong interest in news reporting had begun in high school. He then transferred to the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri at Columbia, where he earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in journalism. Tony worked initially as a news reporter, then primarily in editing at the Santa Maria Times, the Kansas City Star and the San Diego Union and Tribune. In San Diego he designed and conducted research for the Copley Press newspapers. As his research interests grew, he earned a master's degree in mass communication research at Stanford University, and then a doctorate in human behavior at United States International University. Tony continued to conduct research and travel to Copley Press Newspapers for several years.
He then took a job teaching journalism at Northern Illinois University, in DeKalb. Tony said he enjoyed the seasonal changes in weather, which were similar to what he had experienced growing up in Oklahoma. He made his home in the Fox River Valley for about 45 years, enthusiastically participating in family activities.
After his retirement from full-time teaching, in his early 70s, he continued to teach part-time at a couple of universities, and he edited a publication for a local water reclamation management company. Tony had wide-ranging interests. He was energetic and very active. He became a Roman Catholic through the RCIA program at St. Patrick Church in St. Charles. Tony was a lifelong member of the Stanford Alumni Association, he was an accomplished pianist, an aficionado of sports cars, did some sailing, and enjoyed playing chess at the Baker Center in St. Charles. He had taken up downhill skiing at 50 years old and managed to not break any bones in doing so, for the few years that he actively participated in the sport. His "rough and tumble" childhood riding horses in Oklahoma served him well in developing good balance skills.
Tony is survived by his wife Stephanie Rusnak, daughters Tonia Dawn (Michael) Mowrer of Nachusa, Stephanie Scantlen (Adam) Gardner of Aurora, grandchildren Elizabeth Mowrer, Abigail Mowrer, Charles Gardner and Anthony Mowrer.
He is also survived by his adult children Scott Scantlen of Minnesota, and Meridith Harman of Canada.
He was preceded in death by his parents Russell and Eunice Scantlen of California, and his elder son Mitchell Scantlen of California.
A private funeral service was held July 3, 2024.
Tony was proud of his Choctaw ancestry and was a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Memorial donations may be made online to choctawculturalcenter.com (833) 708-9582.