Rosemary Scutti was the first woman to be mayor of Williamsburg, but she wasn't the first Scutti.
Her family, which has lived in the Williamsburg area for more than 100 years, had plenty of members in public office. Two of her uncles were mayor; her dad, Charles Scutti, was town clerk and her brother, Ty Scutti, was town clerk for decades.
Her grandfather, Guilio Scutti, was an early-day marshal of the small town near Florence.
"Some people called Wil liamsburg 'Scuttiville,"' said Scutti's niece, Chris Stutzman of Denver.
The town was settled in 1888 by people working in the
coal mines, and the Scuttis were some of the first.
Rosemary Scutti, who had a tax service, was a champion bowler and softball pitcher. She died Sept. 10 in Cañon City after a brief illness. She was 77.
There wasn't much Rosemary Scutti wasn't in the middle of.
She started as a teller in the First National Bank in Florence and was a vice president and loan officer when she retired.
She owned Scutti Tax Service, had a private "meals on wheels," delivering her own mostly Italian meals to widows, and continually loaned and gave money to people in need.
At one time, she sold insurance and made loans to Freemont County residents. She was known for hosting huge family dinners and even collected clothes from townspeople, taking them to Cañon City to the dry cleaners.
As mayor, she was often on site when town employees were digging ditches or repairing septic tanks.
"She led with her heart," said Stutzman. "If she had it, she'd give it to you," always believing God would take care of her if she were in need.
"She never gave up on anybody," said nephew John "Jay" Paolino of Monument, who spent part of his childhood in the house were Rosemary Scutti and other relatives lived.
He recalls her making sure he "looked perfect" with hair combed and handkerchief in pocket every time he left the house.
An excellent softball player, Rosemary Scutti "was a good hitter and a good pitcher," said Paolino. "But she wasn't speedy going around the bases."
She had an opportunity to play in a national women's softball league but turned it down because "she hated to fly" and really didn't want to live anywhere but Williamsburg, family members said.
Paolino recalled that many family members were worriers, but not Rosemary Scutti.
"She always encouraged me to try different things, be positive and not worry," he said.
Rosemary Ann Scutti was born Jan. 7, 1929, in Williamsburg and graduated from nearby Florence High school.
In addition to her niece and nephew, she is survived by two other nieces, Barbara Cameron and Valerie Vendetti, both of Williamsburg; and two nephews, Gary Bardessona and Rick Vendetti, both of Pueblo. She was preceded in death by two sisters and one brother.
