Dr. Scala remembered as a friend and caring physician
Dr. Louis J. Scala knew that he had one of the most serious specializations a doctor can have: cardiologist. Yet, he still made patients smile and kept them at ease during what could be one of the scariest times in a patient’s life.
Scala, who, along with his brother-in-law, Anthony Giordano, founded Cardiac Care Group in Cape Coral, died Monday morning following a long battle with cancer. He was 54.
Giordano said if you asked any of his patients or staff, they would say he was like no other.
“He was a funny, lighthearted guy who was serious when he needed to be about medicine, but at the same time he kept patients OK and comfortable when things had to be done,” Giordano said. “He said it was OK to have surgery done to the heart.”
Scala also took pictures with himself and all his happy patients over 90, and always brought in food for patients and the staff.
In addition to the high regard of his patients, Scala was well respected within the medical community and was continuously voted one of America’s Top Doctors by Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd. and U.S. News & World Report.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on July 1, 1962, – as was his twin sister, Josephine – he was raised in Brooklyn, and later Staten Island.
Scala first attended State University of New York (SUNY) Fredonia and SUNY Buffalo, where he got his degree in biochemistry. Following graduation, he started as a research assistant at the New York State Institute before going to Bologna, Italy, where his parents were born, to work in research. He then returned to the states to become a research scientist at SUNY Brooklyn Health Science Center until transitioning to medical school.
“We helped him through med school and through the entire process. We were there to support him and helped where we could,” Giordano said.
Scala served his residency at Miriam Hospital at Brown University in Providence, R.I., and a fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center at UCLA before going into practice in Florida to be close to his parents, who retired here.
In 2007, Scala and Giordano founded the Cardiac Care Group, where he worked until his death.
Giordano said even after he was diagnosed with cancer in December 2014, his demeanor didn’t change as he continued to work until two weeks ago, when he simply became too ill.
“He was seeing patients and then he took a turn for the worse. His hopes and dreams are for us to continue to grow the company,” Giordano said. “He loved to be here and loved to take care of people.”
“His pedigree was unprecedented. He should be in a big, clinical setting, but in 2007 I joined him and started the process of starting the company,” said Giordano, who spent 25 years on Wall Street before coming down to start the practice with Scala.
Scala is survived by his mother Tina Scala, father John Scala, twin sister Josephine Scala Giordano, sister Michele Scala Heitz and his daughter Isabella Scala.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 3, from 3-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the Fuller Metz Funeral Home at 3740 Del Prado Blvd.
Interment will take place in New York.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Dr. Louis J. Scala Memorial Foundation, which is in the process of being established. Visit www.fullermetz.com to view the tribute page online.