Remembering Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia '53

Since the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia ’53 on February 16, members of the Xavier community have shared personal memories of him. In particular, Scalia often welcomed Sons of Xavier at the Court, generously offering his time and reflections to those who contacted him. Below are memories shared by fellow members of the Xavier community. To share your own, email news@xavierhs.org.

Frank Ragusa ’11
As a senior at Xavier, Ragusa and Michael Connors ’11 wrote to Justice Scalia. Cadets visited the Justice at the Supreme Court, and he returned the visit when he spoke at the Regimental Awards Ceremony that spring.

"That was the beginning of the relationship that the Justice and I formed. Throughout college, I corresponded with the Justice frequently and his honor invited me to the Court for some of the most significant cases in recent constitutional history, including the Affordable Care Act and the Defense of Marriage Act, among several others. Our relationship grew so close these past years that I had even spoken with the Justice about situations that I was facing personally with career decisions, personal struggles, etc., and just needed the advice of a wise man full of integrity and experience. Justice Scalia was always there. He would return each of my emails with a phone call and help me work through the issues logically and without emotional strain. He had 9 children and 36 grandchildren, and I always joked with him that I was his adopted 37th! Our relationship truly formed into a mentorship, and he was grandfatherly in the sense that I always leaned on him when I needed support or advice.

Above: Justice Scalia receiving a ceremonial saber from Frank
Ragusa '11 at the 2011 Regimental Awards Ceremony, held in
the Church of St. Francis Xavier.

When I graduated Wharton and was presented with the Dean's Award for Excellence, Justice Scalia was the first person I emailed. I was so honored to tell him and make him proud. In many ways I just wanted to thank him because my relationship with him inspired in me the confidence of the world. Having formed such an intimate relationship with someone so much older and more successful made me feel in many ways that I could do anything, and I told him that and thanked him profusely for what he allowed me to accomplish. (In fact, at the Wharton graduation, when the Dean of Wharton presented me with the award, he spoke about my career to the audience. One of the things he spoke about was the relationship that I formed with Justice Scalia). The Justice responded that he wanted me to come visit him as soon as I could, that he'd be in Europe for the summer but immediately upon the Court's return in the fall that I was to come down to D.C. and spend the day with him in Chambers. And that's what I did. On December 23, 2015, I went down to D.C. and spent the day at the Court. I had lunch in his honor's chambers—a table was set up inside Justice Scalia's office right beside his desk. And the two of us talked for three hours. I brought him two gifts—one was a Time Magazine book on "How to Use the U.S. Constitution" with a foreword by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and the other was a container of homemade Italian cookies that my mom baked specifically for the Justice. And the Justice and I just talked over red wine and a true Italian lunch! I told him some of the struggles that I was facing, and sought his advice. He told me all about his career; he reminisced on his life and his future. We talked about SCOTUS rulings past and present (quite amazing to hear his opinion off the record) and he drew my attention to some cases that would impact Wall Street. At one point in the conversation I asked the Justice how he was feeling, and he knocked on wood and said "great." He complained that his shoulder had been bothering him ever since he threw it out while hitting a tennis forehand and he regretted not being able to play, but other than that he said he felt good. In fact, he told me he was looking forward to a hunting trip that he'd be going on in February (unbelievable in hindsight). We talked about the future of the Court, and its composition going forward, with some lingering retirements as three of the Justices would be over 80 years old in coming months. He joked that he was basically working for free because Justices retire at full salary. He asked me how Xavier and the Regiment were doing and I told him great. Then he shared with me some advice on my career, and said that he always envisioned me as a person who would enjoy running a business. We concluded by eating a few of my mom's cookies. The Justice put his arm around me and said "to keep my head up, and that things would get easier.” And from there, he invited me to the Court for a case that would impact Wall Street, and said he hoped to see me again soon, hopefully for that March Supreme Court case. And that was my last moment with Justice Scalia. His honor walked with me through the Chambers of the Court, showed me the "underground" of the Court, the SCOTUS Library, and marble spiral stairs that he said were his favorite architectural feat of the entire building.

These last days I've reflected on that final day that I spent with the Justice, reading through his emails and letters, listening to his voicemails, seeing the underground of the Supreme Court, and touring the SCOTUS library under the auspices of one of the greatest legal minds in history and I'm just proud that he and I share a common bond, and that's Xavier and the Regiment.

Justice Scalia was a selfless individual who espoused the ideals of what it means to be a man for others. He never put himself above other people. I think this is best exemplified by his correspondence with me; he was never too busy for me despite his job, children, or grandchildren. I told him in December that this whole experience for me had been surreal, and he didn't understand why. That's the type of person he was. He was steadfast in his beliefs, in his interpretation of the Constitution, in his judicial philosophy—that it should be interpreted the way our Founders intended. He was a man of principle, of value, of integrity, of service, of honor. Despite being steadfast in his judicial philosophy, his best friend on the Court was Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He was a true legal scholar and understood legal text deeper than most others. His dissents were colorful and intellectual. He challenged his colleagues and certainly during his time on the bench made the Court more rooted in text. His legacy will forever be remembered and last long throughout history. He was a fair man, always told me when he thought I was doing something wrong, and reminded me that my reputation was the only thing I owned. I valued his opinion like no other. He had strong morals, was steadfast in his Catholic roots, and used Catholic values to guide his personal decision-making."

Nelson Deusebio ’56
"On October 12, 2005, 20-plus members of the Class of 1956 and their wives traveled to the Supreme Court, and after observing a two-hour session of the court we met privately with the Justice. 

Above: Nelson Deusebio '56 with Justice Scalia in 2005.

He shared some funny stories and insights to the workings of the Court and spoke warmly of his days at Xavier in the 50s. The wives were absolutely charmed when he shared some humorous family stories with us especially of his nine children, 26 grandchildren, and family dog at the time. It was a very special day we will always remember!

Now one of the finest Constitutional Justices in Supreme Court history belongs to the ages! There will never be another like him."

Jack Raslowsky
To read President Raslowsky’s memories of Justice Scalia, click here.