Salvatore “Buddy” Scotto
Community activist Buddy Scotto is the principal owner and Licensed Manager of Scotto Funeral Home. Son of Patsy and Rose Scotto, the founders of Scotto Funeral Home, Buddy has always considered Scotto Funeral Home a center for life in Carroll Gardens often opening the funeral home up for public meetings and civic organizations. Buddy is a proud alum of St. Stephen Grammar School and Bishop Laughlin Memorial High School. A graduate of the original St. Francis College, Buddy served a commission in the Korean War in 1950 and successfully completed Officer’s School. Buddy later returned home to the old neighborhood and obtained his Funeral Directors License so that his parents could retire. Although Patsy and Rose never did truly retire, Buddy took what he had learned in college, the Army and Funeral School to not only build a better business, but also a better neighborhood. During a time when many others fled the old neighborhood for Long Island and elsewhere, Buddy remained in Brooklyn with is wife, Elaine and two children, Debra and Mark. Buddy’s care and concern for people led him to found numerous local organizations which provide affordable housing for seniors and low income families as well as providing day care services for working moms. Buddy has always brought a professional and understanding to Scotto Funeral Home and sets the standards very high for his staff to follow when it comes to serving the families that come to find comfort and direction at Scotto Funeral Home.
Theresa “Dolly” Scotto-Spinelli The oldest child of Patsy and Rose Scotto, Terry or Dolly as she is referred to by her friends, is commonly the voice at the other end of the phone no matter what time day or night that you call Scotto Funeral Home. With 50 years experience in the funeral industry Terry became active at Scotto Funeral home in 1958 soon after her marriage to her beloved husband Frank Spinelli. Terry is truly one of Scotto Funeral Home’s greatest assets combining the perfect balance of hospitality, warmth and empathy during a families most difficult times. Her old school traits make all that walk through the doors of Scotto Funeral Home feel like family.
John L. Heyer Sr. John L. Heyer Sr. began his 30 year involvement in the Funeral Industry when he began working at Joseph Redmond Funeral Directors in Red Hook, Brooklyn in 1978. In 1983 John began working part time for Scotto Funeral Home as a nighttime floor attendant. In 1997 John decided to sell his personal trucking business and become full committed to the funeral business. As business manager of Scotto Funeral Home, John is never fare from the funeral home fully committed to the generations of families served by the Scotto family. His own relationship with his family and his faith are reflected in John’s particular style of dealing with people with fatherly understanding and guidance, always looking to direct others toward what is best for them.
John L. Heyer II Raised in the business by his father John Sr. and trained under the direction of Buddy Scotto in the tradition of the Scotto family, John obtained his New York State Funeral Director’s Licenses after attending American Academy McAllister Institute. A member of the New York State Funeral Directors Association, John also holds a Bachelors of Art Degree from Fordham University where he majored in both Theology and Political Science. John has actively worked at Scotto Funeral Home since the age of 14. He is a fifth generation member of the Carroll Gardens community and was recently married to Maria Reca with whose assistance John is able to provide bi-lingual funeral service in English and Italian. A Knight of the Holy Sepulcher, John can often be found preparing Sacred Hearts-St. Stephen Church for holidays and mentoring the youth of the neighborhood by involving them in church and Italian cultural activities. Possessing a great devotion to the Blessed Mother under the title of Our Lady of Sorrows, John feels a special bond to those from Mola di Bari who continue to celebrate the feast of Maria SS. Addolorata in Carroll Gardens every September. John is also a familiar face around Brooklyn as the Special Assistant to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. John strongly believes that he has been called to serve others and finds no greater way to do this then when people are most in need, during a time of grief and loss.
