Necrology

Pasquale Valentine Scarpino '54

Feb. 13, 1932-Jul. 21, 2007

Pasquale Valentine Scarpino ’54, professor emeritus of environmental engineering at the University of Cincinnati and a champion of clean water, was born on February 13, 1932, in Utica, NY. The son of Antonio Scarpino, a meat cutter, and the former Mary Lee, “Pat” Scarpino was a nephew of Vito S. ’28 and Charles G. Lee ’45. A graduate of Thomas R. Proctor High School in Utica, he followed his uncles to Hamilton in 1950. While on College Hill, he was active in the Debate Club and took part in productions of the Charlatans. After three years, he left the Hill and completed his undergraduate studies at Utica College of Syracuse University, earning his B.A. degree in 1955.

Pursuing an interest in microbiology, Pat Scarpino acquired an M.S. degree in that subject from Rutgers University in 1958. He stayed on there as a U.S. Public Health Service research assistant in its department of agricultural microbiology until 1961, when he was awarded his Ph.D. After two years as an assistant professor of biological sciences at Fairleigh Dickinson University, he joined the College of Engineering at the University of Cincinnati. Promoted to professor of environmental engineering in 1971, he was later given the added title of professor of environmental health.

With his strong background in microbiology, Dr. Scarpino became one of the pioneers in applying microbiological principles to solving environmental engineering problems. He specialized in water purification and waste water treatment as well as combating microbial pollutants in water and the air. According to his obituary in the Cincinnati Inquirer, his most recent work focused on “the use of antibiotics in agricultural practices and the resulting development of antibiotic resistant microorganisms.”

Dr. Scarpino, a former chairman of the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, was actively engaged for many years in addressing Ohio River Basin problems, such as assessing storm water and waste water, sewer overflow, and the monitoring of viruses. Credited with helping to ensure “that people in Greater Cincinnati — and others across the nation — have safe drinking water,” he chaired the water subcommittee of the city’s environmental task force as well as its environmental advisory council. As chairman of the local Citizens and Scientists for Safe Drinking Water, his work further contributed to successful efforts to combat microbial threats to Cincinnati’s Ohio River drinking water supply. The recipient of numerous research grants and author of more than 65 research papers, Dr. Scarpino, through his scientific work and as chairman of the congressional task force on safe drinking water, aided in the passage of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974. In 2005, in recognition of his many contributions, the Ohio River Basin Consortium for Research and Education presented him with its Ohio River Keeper Award.

Pasquale V. Scarpino, who retired from the University of Cincinnati in 2003 after 40 years of teaching and research there, died on July 21, 2007, in a Cincinnati-area hospital. He is survived by his wife, the former Flora Jean Heid; three daughters, Andrea Scarpino, Kimberly Cooper, and Lin Lin Chen; and five grand­children and a sister.

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