Arlene Agnus Scozzaro

In Loving Memory of Arlene Scozzaro (October 24, 1945 – May 27, 2025) Arlene Scozzaro passed away suddenly on May 27, 2025, at the age of 79. Though she had been living with stage 4 cancer, she remained vibrant, curious, and full of life. Her passing came before illness could take her shine. Even in hardship, she held fast to her belief, her vision, and her will. She carried a feeling deep in her soul that she just couldn’t lose—and somehow, in her own fierce act of grace, she never did.

Born in the Donnelly Homes of Trenton, New Jersey, one of eight siblings, Arlene came from humble beginnings and built a life marked by grit and grace, style, and an unstoppable drive to make something beautiful out of what she was given. She began her career in real estate before breaking into finance in the early 1980s—starting as a stockbroker at EF Hutton, back when the industry was still almost entirely dominated by men. She rose to become a Senior Vice President at Morgan Stanley, where she spent decades guiding families and executives with sharp instincts and relentless work ethic.

But Arlene was never defined by work alone. She was a firecracker—bold, passionate, and unforgettable. A lover of life in every sense: a patron of the arts, a fashion original with unmistakable presence, and someone who brought energy wherever she went. She was drawn to creativity and expression, staying active with the Museum of Modern Art, the Entrepreneurs Club of NYC, and Americans for the Arts. She was also deeply charitable—sponsoring children across the globe and supporting causes that uplifted the sick and the poor. She gave back close to home too, supporting Christine’s Hope for Kids alongside her grandson Sinjin and helping to instill the importance of compassion and community in the next generation. She believed in helping people she’d never meet, and in leaving the world just a little better.

She is survived by her son, Gian, and her grandsons, Sinjin and Soren, who knew her lovingly as “Mimi,” as well as her brother Michael and sister Betty. One of Arlene’s greatest accomplishments was the life she created for her family. Gian carries forward her fire—her appetite for beauty, her belief that you go, you try, you live. Her grandsons reflect her spirit in distinct and beautiful ways: Sinjin, imaginative and driven, already forging a multidimensional path as both scholar and athlete; and Soren, an empathic soul who moves through the world with deep feeling and fierce presence, expressing truth through action and emotion. Their lives echo the love, vision, and boldness she poured into the people she cherished most.

Arlene split her time between Manhattan and Princeton, and wherever she was, she brought her convictions, her generosity, and a sense of elegance that was entirely her own. She lived with style and strength, loved with everything she had, and carved out a life that could never be mistaken for anyone else’s.

The body may rest, but the spirit—graceful, electric, and full of color—still moves through the breeze, the blossoms, the light.

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Among the many things Arlene treasured, she kept this childhood poem by her son Gian which was displayed throughout her life.

Gian — May 5, 1983

Spring is Here

In Spring, soccer starts.

In Spring, swimming starts.

In Spring, the days become warmer, and the sun is brighter.

In Spring, the tree leaves turn green, and more flowers to be seen.

In Spring, you can go jogging.

In Spring, you can ride a bike and take a hike.

In Spring, you can play sports and wear shorts.

In Spring, I like to sing.

In Spring, the green grass grows very fast.

In the Spring, the birds are on wing, starting to sing.

In Spring, I like to see the birds and bee's, fly around the pretty tree’s.

In the Spring there is a rose, that needs to be sprayed by a rubber hose.

In Spring, even if it’s cool, I like to swim in my pool.

In the Spring in my room, I can smell my mom’s perfume