Charge On - Russell Scott Williams, a loving husband, father, grandfather (Pops), and avid UCF Athletics fan, passed away on December 24, 2022, in Sanford, FL, with his family by his side after his two-year battle with cancer. He was 63.

Scott was born on September 11, 1959, in Hanover, PA to Russell and Carole Williams and was raised in Westminster, Maryland. He was the oldest of five children, growing up with four younger sisters – Terri, Debbie, Dee, and Dana. Scott played football, basketball, and baseball throughout his childhood up through high school, with his number being 22. As a child, he fell in love with Florida and told his parents one day he would live there. He made that happen after graduating high school and would meet his wife Cathy Jo Capko while working together at Chelsea Title and Guarantee Company in Sanford, FL in 1978.

While attending the University of Central Florida, Scott worked in the Athletics department as an athletic trainer for all sports and graduated with a degree in Education. Scott and Cathy Jo were married on August 1, 1981, and together they have six sons – Radley, Ryley, Renny, Roby, Rudy, and Rony. Scott had an impactful 40-year career as a Physical Education teacher in Seminole County, FL. He taught at Milwee Middle, Pine Crest Elementary, and Idyllwilde Elementary, with most of those years served at Idyllwilde Elementary School in Sanford, FL. He used coaching to teach life lessons that applied beyond the playing field. While he enjoyed his amazing career as an educator, his passion was his family. Scott spent countless hours playing with his sons, coaching their many youth sports teams, and cheering on his alma mater, the UCF Knights.

Scott's love for UCF went deeper than just a casual fan, as he and Cathy Jo helped write for, publish, and print the UCF Sports Newsletter from the late eighties to mid-nineties. His love for the Knights grew throughout the family and led to his sons, many nieces and nephews, and many grandnieces and grandnephews attending and graduating from UCF. Scott was a UCF Athletics season ticket holder for football, basketball, and baseball.

Scott's passion for UCF spread from a humble start as a UCF athletic trainer to covering sports for the UCF Sports Newsletter; growing into a love that expanded throughout his family and friends. Games became more than just games – they became a lifestyle. A lifestyle full of tailgates, watch parties, road trips, and UCF text groups, all of which created time to spend with family and fellow Knights. Scott's love of UCF laid the foundation for a lifetime worth of amazing memories and friendships. Scott's voice will always be remembered saying, "Once a Knight, always a Knight."

Scott is survived by his wife, parents, six sons, daughters-in-law, four sisters, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, three grandsons (Finley, Eli, and Jack), a granddaughter (Parker), and a large extended community of family, friends, and UCF fans.

Scott's family will host a funeral Mass on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Nativity Catholic Church, 3255 N. Ronald Reagan Blvd., Longwood, FL 32750. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of the organizations that were important to Scott and his wonderful care – MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX – Dr. Srour's Research Team; Orlando Health Foundation; Advent Health Hospice Care – Central Florida.

The beginning and the end reach out their hands to each other. – Chinese Proverb

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Published by Orlando Sentinel from Jan. 3 to Jan. 17, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Russell Williams

Sponsored by The Orlando Sentinel.

14 Entries

Mary Alexander

August 24, 2024

To the Williams family ~
We are so sorry to hear of Scott's passing. He was a wonderful inspiration to our two boys when they first played sports. He coached them first on soccer, even letting our 2.5-yr-old boy practice with the 4-yr-olds as he cried on the side lines because he couldn't participate. Scott even gave him a trophy (best mascot) at the end of the season. He continues to play soccer even now that he is married, has kids, and is successful in business. Our other son played thru college in intermurals. The lessons and friendships they acquired in those first years were invaluable. Scott was always so positive and helped them be the best they could be. He is surely missed. Heaven has a wonderful addition now. Peace to all of you! May God continue to hold you all in his hands. Love, Gregg & Mary Alexander

Mariah D.

July 31, 2024

coach williams was always very funny. he worked there for all my 5 years of being at idyllwilde . he was always the best him and coach wright .they always got us hyped up about UCF. learning about it always made me want to go there. he was always so sweet i cant recall a time he yelled at a child, he had so much patience. i loved learning from him . a very inspiring man

Vickie Pearson

December 12, 2023

Thinking of your family during this time. Praying your family will be comforted by the love and support of family members and friends. Love y´all, Larry & Vickie

Dawn Crawford

July 23, 2023

Cathy Jo,

I met you on NSB Friday July 21, 2023; I was dancing in the sand like no one was watching. Your story & life with Scott touched my heart. We spoke of shells and butterflies. I was at the beach Friday to select my "sobriety shell" which i find every month for years, Amen. My shell was in my hand when we met. When I left the beach the song the on radio was EVEN FLOW by by Pearl Jam. The line that caught my attention ....."Thoughts are like Butterflies". Scott is with You forever. Never doubt.
Embrace your grief, may you heal your pain. You are not alone.
~ Dawn Crawford xoxo
Port Orange, FL

Janis palmer mcgovern

March 3, 2023

So sorry for your loss we had a lot of good times at Chelsea title God bless you and your family

Amune

January 7, 2023

May our God father rest in peace . We love you forever. It was fun with you , full of humor and laughter.
Love always . Precious Destiny Ukachukwu and Wisdom Kanu .

Wanda

January 6, 2023

Scott was not only my cousin but a big brother. I have so many good memories; horseback riding at the Kelly farm, watching his high school games, learning to drive stick shift in the opal, and the famous Florida road trip with Pappy, Granny and Ms. Perrine. I can't imagine being a parent and loosing a child, being a wife and loosing a husband or a sister loosing a brother. It is with heavy heart that I express my deepest sympathy to all of you.

Jamie Lobascio

January 6, 2023

I didn´t have the pleasure of knowing Scott as long as I wish I had been able to but the time I did spend, as simple as seeing him briefly and him and Cathy while they were supporting, asking how I was you could feel his genuine care for people. Sending my condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time a beyond. He was such a light in so many lives and will continue on through others who he impacted.

Waylon Boston

January 5, 2023

He was a very very nice man my niece had him for a p.e. coach from First grade to Fourth grade at idyllwilde and he not only taughted her at the school but in the afternoons when it came time to dismissal he was always up there to help the other coaches with that he will be remembered as a great coach and will always have a great effect on anybodys heart my condolences to everyone of scott williams family

Jason

January 5, 2023

Where do I begin when it comes to my Uncle Scott. My earliest memories which are nearly 40 years old now include a small beat-up red Toyota Corolla, a two lane road with scary turns (434), and of course UCF. I can vividly picture that Corolla sitting in the driveway of my childhood house with Scott waiting for me to come out and my mom telling me to be good as he took me to yet another home UCF football or basketball game. It wasn´t always just me and Scott, sometimes my aunt Cathy would go, or maybe other family members. But mostly it was just the two of us in the beginning and my most vivid memories are from those times. As a kid you don´t know how to appreciate those moments and how unique and special they truly are. Hanging with Scott was part of the excitement, it wasn´t just about UCF. I was a sponge absorbing all he said about the school, sports, the refs, and life.

Back then I naturally didn't fully appreciate the concept of a man in his 20´s taking all the extra time out of his day to drive out of his way and pick up a young kid from a family he just married into only years earlier. Looking back as an adult with kids, the level of appreciation is overwhelming. He single handedly turned me into the UCF superfan that I am today, which has created so many incredible memories and deep lifelong friendships. More importantly he taught me the importance of family. He helped make UCF a family event which is part of his legacy that will undoubtedly carry on.

But my uncle Scott had so much influence on my life beyond UCF and family. He used humor to diffuse difficult situations. He brought a laid back personality to family events that needed it. He helped to provide calm and perspective after setbacks (including bad UCF losses). He was THE friendly face for family newbies (such as my wife 26 years ago) to help them acclimate into the madness. He showed me so much about fatherhood with how he interacted with his 6 boys and how he invested himself in his nieces and nephews.

His battle with cancer and his passing has been a real struggle for me. I struggle because someone that wonderful and selfless, who was so giving of his love and attention, who was so surrounded by love and deserved adoration...just should not be taken from us this early. I´m sad for myself, I´m sad for my family, I´m sad for his beautiful kids and their families, I´m sad for my incredible aunt, and I´m sad for the thousands of lives he touched in the community. I´m allowing myself to feel this sadness, however I´m also eternally grateful for the time I had with my Uncle Scott. I am grateful because I know I had the best uncle a kid turned adult could ever ask for, thank you Uncle Scott for a lifetime of laughs, lessons, and memories.

Susan Reyes

January 5, 2023

I didn´t know him but his story touched me. I´m sorry for your loss. May God bless you with the strong memories you have and comfort you now and always

Vickie Pearson

January 5, 2023

I have know Scott for about thirty years. He was baseball coach for both my boys. My oldest was close to his oldest boys in age and our youngest was close to his youngest in age. I even helped coach with him one year when there weren't enough dads that could commit to helping. I also worked with him at Idyllwilde, when he came to the school I worked the PE department. Later I was assigned to other jobs within the school but we still saw each other many times throughout the days and weeks. He always had a kind word and was always positive not only with those of us who knew him but with the students who were lucky enough to have known him. He was the PE teacher for all 3 of our children and they each have a special place in their hearts for him. Our family is Blessed to know his family. I believe Scott has left a positive influence on most everyone who has had the privilege to have known him.

Mary Ann Myers

January 5, 2023

I knew Scott from working at Idyllwilde. After each UCF football game, we would talk about how it went. He always had a smile and a kind word. He will be greatly missed but his spirt will live on with all who knew him. May his memory be eternal.

Linda Elliott

January 5, 2023

Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always.

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