Cal Poly Mourns Passing of Football Alum Roy Scialabba
6/5/2025 4:51:00 PM | Football, General
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Roy Scialabba, a member of the 1960 Cal Poly football team and a survivor of the plane crash in Toledo, Ohio, which took the lives of 16 teammates, the student manager and a team supporter, passed away last month in San Jose.
Scialabba, who was a freshman offensive guard and end on the Mustang football team in 1960, died at the age of 83 on May 13, 2025. His wife of 47 years, Kathleen Scialabba, predeceased him on February 22, 2014.
The plane crash that claimed the lives of 22 individuals in Toledo, Ohio, followed a game between the Mustangs and Bowling Green. For the past 60 years, a group of survivors has held annual reunions in June to commemorate their shared experience.
Scialabba met the love of his life, Kathie McBride, at Cal Poly. Both graduated with degrees in physical education, were married in 1966, and shared a life dedicated to education, athletics, and family.
Scialabba's wife is a sister of Dick McBride, who also survived the crash. In addition to playing football, Scialabba was a boxer and wrestler at Cal Poly, earning a conference title in wrestling and All-American honors in boxing.
With the passing of Scialabba, only eight of the 26 survivors of the crash remain alive — players Don Adams, John Brennan, Fred Brown, Bill Dauphin, Brent Jobe, Gil Stork and Ted Tollner along with assistant coach Walt Williamson.
In a 2020 story commemorating the 60th anniversary of the crash, Scialabba said, "We were scared a little bit. No other plane had gone up (that evening). I remember starting to take off. We banked to the left and then I heard them shout ..."
Just before takeoff, Scialabba returned to the terminal to recover an article of clothing he had left behind. When he returned to the plane, Al Marinai had moved into his seat. Scialabba moved to the back of the plane. Marinai was much more severely injured than Scialabba (punctured lung and minor scrapes and bruises) in the crash.
After recovering from his injuries in the plane crash, Scialabba returned to the football team and played through the 1963 season. After graduation in 1965, Scialabba coached football and wrestling at Andrew Hill High School in San Jose for 13 years before entering the food sales business, retiring in 2003.
Scialabba was born in Westerly, RI, on December 9, 1941, to Alex and Felice Scialabba. At the age of 14, he moved with his father to San Bernardino, CA, where he attended San Bernardino High School.
An accomplished athlete, Roy excelled in multiple sports, with a particular passion for football and baseball. He was honored as the SBHS Athlete of the Year during his senior year.
Following his time at Cal Poly, Scialabba accepted a teaching position at Andrew Hill High School in 1969. He also served as head wrestling coach and assistant football coach.
Under his leadership, the Falcon wrestling program achieved remarkable success, capturing six league titles, three CIF-Central Coast Section titles (1974, 1978, 1979) and a CIF State Team Championship in 1978. He coached two individual CIF state champions (Ricky Bracamonte in 1975 and George Achica in 1978), along with five state placers, 12 CIF-Central Coast Section champions, and 14 CIF-Central Coast Section placers during his tenure.
In the summer of 1980, Roy ventured into food sales, taking a sabbatical from teaching to become a founding partner in Northern California Food Sales. His success as a salesman contributed to the company becoming the largest food brokerage firm in Northern California.
Scialabba retired from NCFS in 2003, but he remained active as a part-time consultant for various companies over the years. In retirement, he enjoyed traveling, playing golf, and sharing good meals with family and friends.
Roy is survived by his two children, Mike Scialabba (Gina) of San Jose and Deanna Dillon (Roger) of Mansfield, Texas, along with four grandchildren, his sister-in-law, Sharon Morgan, and four nieces as well as his extended McBride and Sposato families.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Roy's name to the John Madden Football Center project or wrestling program at Cal Poly (mustangathleticfund.com)
Scialabba, who was a freshman offensive guard and end on the Mustang football team in 1960, died at the age of 83 on May 13, 2025. His wife of 47 years, Kathleen Scialabba, predeceased him on February 22, 2014.
The plane crash that claimed the lives of 22 individuals in Toledo, Ohio, followed a game between the Mustangs and Bowling Green. For the past 60 years, a group of survivors has held annual reunions in June to commemorate their shared experience.
Scialabba met the love of his life, Kathie McBride, at Cal Poly. Both graduated with degrees in physical education, were married in 1966, and shared a life dedicated to education, athletics, and family.
Scialabba's wife is a sister of Dick McBride, who also survived the crash. In addition to playing football, Scialabba was a boxer and wrestler at Cal Poly, earning a conference title in wrestling and All-American honors in boxing.
With the passing of Scialabba, only eight of the 26 survivors of the crash remain alive — players Don Adams, John Brennan, Fred Brown, Bill Dauphin, Brent Jobe, Gil Stork and Ted Tollner along with assistant coach Walt Williamson.
In a 2020 story commemorating the 60th anniversary of the crash, Scialabba said, "We were scared a little bit. No other plane had gone up (that evening). I remember starting to take off. We banked to the left and then I heard them shout ..."
Just before takeoff, Scialabba returned to the terminal to recover an article of clothing he had left behind. When he returned to the plane, Al Marinai had moved into his seat. Scialabba moved to the back of the plane. Marinai was much more severely injured than Scialabba (punctured lung and minor scrapes and bruises) in the crash.
After recovering from his injuries in the plane crash, Scialabba returned to the football team and played through the 1963 season. After graduation in 1965, Scialabba coached football and wrestling at Andrew Hill High School in San Jose for 13 years before entering the food sales business, retiring in 2003.
Scialabba was born in Westerly, RI, on December 9, 1941, to Alex and Felice Scialabba. At the age of 14, he moved with his father to San Bernardino, CA, where he attended San Bernardino High School.
An accomplished athlete, Roy excelled in multiple sports, with a particular passion for football and baseball. He was honored as the SBHS Athlete of the Year during his senior year.
Following his time at Cal Poly, Scialabba accepted a teaching position at Andrew Hill High School in 1969. He also served as head wrestling coach and assistant football coach.
Under his leadership, the Falcon wrestling program achieved remarkable success, capturing six league titles, three CIF-Central Coast Section titles (1974, 1978, 1979) and a CIF State Team Championship in 1978. He coached two individual CIF state champions (Ricky Bracamonte in 1975 and George Achica in 1978), along with five state placers, 12 CIF-Central Coast Section champions, and 14 CIF-Central Coast Section placers during his tenure.
In the summer of 1980, Roy ventured into food sales, taking a sabbatical from teaching to become a founding partner in Northern California Food Sales. His success as a salesman contributed to the company becoming the largest food brokerage firm in Northern California.
Scialabba retired from NCFS in 2003, but he remained active as a part-time consultant for various companies over the years. In retirement, he enjoyed traveling, playing golf, and sharing good meals with family and friends.
Roy is survived by his two children, Mike Scialabba (Gina) of San Jose and Deanna Dillon (Roger) of Mansfield, Texas, along with four grandchildren, his sister-in-law, Sharon Morgan, and four nieces as well as his extended McBride and Sposato families.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Roy's name to the John Madden Football Center project or wrestling program at Cal Poly (mustangathleticfund.com)
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