Richard Anton Sgarlotti

October 3, 1946 - February 5, 2022

Richard A. Sgarlotti, 75, of Quinnesec, passed away Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, at Dickinson County Healthcare System. He had been fighting inclusion body myositis for several years. Richard was born October 3, 1946, in Iron Mountain; the son of Domenic and Eunice Sgarlotti. He was active in Boy Scouts as a youth, earning the Eagle Scout Award. After graduating from Iron Mountain High School in 1964, Richard attended Michigan State University, where he received bachelors and masters degrees. Later he earned an educational specialist degree from Northern Michigan University. In 1968 he married Carol Spencer. They have one daughter, Rebecca Susan, and were married for 53 years. Richard spent most of his working life as a math educator. He began his career at Dwight Rich Jr. High School in Lansing. After he returned to the Upper Peninsula, he took a teaching job in Pembine, WI. Most of his teaching career was spent at Hannahville School in Wilson. Richard appreciated the opportunity to do many types of programs with Indian students including starting a radio program, making maple syrup, hiking Isle Royale, attending Packer games, and camping out on a Disney World trip. Richard and Hannahville students attended many regional and national conferences, making numerous presentations. During his years at Hannahville, he received many awards and wrote many successful grants. One of the greatest was the Toyota Time Award, a two-year grant that recognized 35 K-12 teachers across the United States for innovative projects that enhanced mathematics education in their schools. Richard was employed many summers training reservation teachers in instructional strategies and mathematics. Along with teaching partners, Liz Moya-Herrera and Dr. April Lea Go Forth, he presented trainings for the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) and the California Department of Education Office of Indian Education. Summers also included acting as camp director for Indian youth leadership camps held at Lake Nesbit near Covington. Attendees included students from across the country as well as local youth. Camps were dedicated to developing leadership qualities for use in their communities, tribes, and nationally. Richard was an active, longtime member of First Presbyterian Church in Kingsford. He was a talented cook who directed the church’s community Christmas dinner for 20 years. In younger years Richard enjoyed biking, cross country skiing, and attending Buckskin and Quarter Horse shows with his wife. These days he enjoyed crossword puzzles, watching Jeopardy, helping grandchildren with math problems, and snooze time with the family cats, Daisy and Leonard. He Leaves his wife Carol, a daughter Rebecca (David) Holtien and two grandchildren, Henry and Vivienne, all of Appleton, WI. He also leaves his sister, Janet (John) Semler of Wellston, MI. Visitation and services for Richard A. Sgarlotti will be Friday, Feb. 11 at First Presbyterian Church in Kingsford. Visitation is scheduled at 10:00 a.m. with services at 11:00 a.m. Richard was a supporter of AHOPE for Children, a mission that supports orphaned Ethiopian children who are infected by HIV. The family suggests that memorials be directed to that charity. They can be reached at [email protected] or at AHOPE for Children; PO Box 1987; Alexandria, VA 22313 Condolences may be expressed to the family of Richard Sgarlotti online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.