Aldo F. Sciamanna

Aldo F. Sciamanna of Oakland died April 15. He was 85.

Sciamanna was born Jan. 26, 1929, in Cumberland, Wyo. He grew up in Rock Springs, Wyo. and later moved to San Francisco. He graduated from the University of San Francisco in 1952 with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry. He met Betty Ann Fennell and in 1954 they married, had two children Suzanne and Steven, and later moved to Oakland.

Sciamanna's career as an analytical chemist began in 1952 at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, continued at UC Rad Lab, and finished with biomass conversion in the UC Berkeley Chemical Engineering Department. He retired in 1986 and travelled widely with his wife.

He liked to fix and invent things and watch over his grandchildren with his wife, delighting in many adventures, stories and music. He loved being a hands-on Grandpa.

Sciamanna’s first stint with the Boy Scouts in 1941 ignited a life-long passion. In 1952 he was a leader of Troop 42 (San Francisco), then again in his son's Troop 6, Piedmont Council and returned in 1991 as a council office volunteer. He was awarded the prestigious Silver Beaver award.

Sciamanna is predeceased by his wife, Betty Ann; sister, Flora and brother, Lido. He is survived by his sister, Dena Mandeville; daughter, Suzanne (Ed) Batiste; son, Steven (Sandy); grandchildren, Peter and Kate; nephews, Greg Mandeville and John Fennell; niece, Alisa Fennell and extended family.

Donations may be made to the BSA Piedmont Council Aldo Sciamanna Fund, 10 Highland Way, Piedmont Calif., 94611 to benefit Eagle Scout advancement and STEM projects.

Celebrate Sciamanna’s life on May 10 at 10 a.m. at Corpus Christi Church, 322 Saint James Drive in Piedmont, Calif.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in his name be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.