Obituary of Scott Uttley

OBITUARY FOR J. SCOTT UTTLEY, PH.D. FROM WIFE HARI:

Although a bit unorthodox in style, I would like to tell you something about my husband of nearly 57 years, in the hopes that some will find inspiration from his life journey.

Scott was born to Phyllis and Joseph Uttley on October 21, 1945 in Pottstown, PA (yes that Pottstown!).  The Uttleys lived with Grandma Ann and Harry Shappell in Royersford, PA, where they ran a luncheon/soda/candy/ ice cream shop on Main Street.  Scott spent many happy hours of his childhood in that shop, and loved to read the comics that were sold.  When Harry died and Ann could no longer keep the shop, Scott’s parents moved to Pottstown, eventually to Pottstown Landing. 

He attended Owen J. Roberts High School, where he participated in the drama club and made lots of friends.  Scott was a good student, but not especially outstanding, graduating in 1963.  He came from a working class family, in which college was not a priority.  But Scott had bigger plans and was encouraged to pursue them by Grandmom Shappell.

He then attended Temple University, which at that time was a large private school in Philadelphia, on a full scholarship, as he was developing a lifelong love of learning.  For four years, he rode the Reading Railroad from Pottstown to Philadelphia, meeting a host of interesting people.

I started Temple University a year later.  During the first week of school, I was casually introduced to Scott, along with some of his friends.  But it wasn’t until a cold, rainy day at the end of the first week of calculus class, when I was asked to join another calculus class across campus, that our paths would cross.  At the end of that class period, I recognized Scott and he me.   And so started a 60 year love affair.

When I met Scott, he was always hungry for food.  At 6’4’, he had a big frame to fill, and my mother, Mary Werner, was up to the task of feeding him. 

More than food, he was hungry for knowledge.  Scott wasn’t sure whether he would major in Comparative Religions or Geology.  He decided to major in Geology and keep Religious Scholarship as a lifelong pursuit.  I majored in Sociology.  Because Scott was a year ahead of me in school, I doubled up on classes so that we could marry and then start graduate school together. 

In 1967, we had a large wedding in Philadelphia and a few weeks later began our Masters’ programs at Indiana University, Bloomington.  After a year and a half, we received our degrees and headed for Louisiana, where Scott was to work for Mobil.  We disliked New Orleans, so we searched for teaching positions in other states.  I ended up teaching Sociology at Manhattanville College and Scott taught Geology and Astronomy at Jersey City State. 

In 1974, Scott received his Ph.D. at The Ohio State University in Geology, with emphasis on economic and ecological Geology (even back then).   It was a fast degree for a brilliant mind.

After receiving his Ph.D., we moved to Colorado and we have lived here ever since (with the exception of three years when Scott worked in California on a project for Denver’s Scientific Software, Intercomp).  Over the years he worked for several Oil and Gas firms, and at one point became President of a new company, States Exploration in 1980.

For the last twenty years of his professional life, Scott and his longtime friend Peter Colonomos developed Vista Energy Consulting Corporation.  It was the goal of Vista to aid countries and companies in search of oil and gas in the most ecologically clean and efficient manner.  Scott retired Vista Corporation shortly before Peter’s death in 2023.

Scott was a lifelong researcher and scholar.  Among his passionate interests were Astronomy, historical Judaism and Christianity, Meteorology, ancestry research, photography, and music. He loved to plan trips and travel abroad.   He was my best painting critic.  He was a lifelong Democrat, volunteering to take wonderful photos at Jefferson County Dems events.  He was logical, honorable, and kind, believing that telling the truth was especially important.  He was my best friend.  He taught me to be a better human being.

Scott died on March 19, 2024, of an unknown, insidious culprit that managed to destroy some of his organs, after having dozens of blood tests, biopsies, and scans.   He is survived by his sons Jason, Devon, Randy (Kelly Crawford), and Brandon (Jaclyn Luca); grandchildren Adalynn, Davis, Alyssa, and Aubrey;  his brother Tim, his sister Holly; dozens of nieces and nephews; cats Celeste, Alice, Toby, and Nina.  And of course me, Hari Wendy Uttley (Werner). 

Scott was a dedicated cat person, adoring the many cats we adopted over the many years.  If you would like to honor Scott with a donation, please sent it to the Jefferson County’s Foothills Animal Shelter.