Remembering Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia

The sudden passing of Justice Antonin Scalia has shocked many. He was 79 years old, rather young for a Justice. He died while engaging in something that he loved to occasionally do with his friends … hunting.

Whether you shared his views or his interpretations of the Constitution or not, you have to agree that he was a man with a keen mind who dedicated his professional life to the American justice system. 

I did not know him personally, but I looked up to him. 

He was a first generation Sicilian-American, nominated to the bench when it was not politically fashionable to do so. Judge Scalia was a source of pride for my compatriots and me. 

One of Justice Scalia's grandfathers came from Barcellona del Gotto in the Province of Messina, not far from where I was born, and the other came from Sommatino in the Caltanissetta province.

I Met Him Once …

I had the opportunity to meet him and shake his hand once. Our chance meeting is an anecdote I often share with friends.

It was some years ago. I was on my way to see my elderly parents in Sicily. I flew to Washington, D.C. where I connected with the TWA flight to Milan. For those too young to remember, TWA (Trans-World Airways) was one of two premier U.S. airline carriers that did not survive; the other was Pan-American Airways.  

Some eleven plus hours later we landed at the Malpensa International Airport, located about 75 K.M. from downtown Milan. Just before landing, the captain advised us that because of fog, many connecting flights would be delayed. Sure enough, after landing, I learned that my flight to Palermo had been delayed.  I looked at my watch and it was, if I recall properly around 2 P.M.

Suddenly I heard an announcement in Italian paging Judge Antonin Scalia to present himself to the information desk. Recognizing his name, I looked around, and sure enough I recognized him. He was with his wife. I noticed that he was not responding to the page. I hesitated for a minute and then I got the courage to approach him.

“Justice Scalia, they are paging you”, I said. He thanked me. I followed up with: “Do you speak Italian?” He said that he did not, just a little Sicilian. I then asked him if I could help. He again thanked me and shook his head in the affirmative. Together we walked to the information desk. I told the attendant that Justice Scalia did not speak Italian, and that I had volunteered to translate for him.

I informed the Justice that there was a car waiting for him by curbside. He would be taken to Linate, the domestic airport, for a connecting flight to Rome. Apparently the fog had not yet affected Linate. He thanked me for my help. This encouraged me to ask him if he was going to Barcellona. He acted surprised that I knew his grandfather’s hometown, but he shook he head. He whispered that he was going to Rome on official business. I said goodbye to him.  He shook my hand.

I proceeded to the airline desk to see if I could be rerouted through Rome since I would lose the remaining flight to Palermo. I was told that I would be placed on the stand-by list, and should the weather clear, get to Rome. Miracle of all miracles, the fog lifted and I got on the plane leaving for Rome. It was approximately 7 P.M. by now.

Upon disembarking in Rome 45 minutes later, I was immediately surrounded by several men in civilian clothes who ushered me to a nearby room. One of the men spoke English. He asked me: “Where is he? Where is he?” I had no idea what they were talking about. Frightened I replied: “Who?” The man said: “Justice Scalia! You were the last person seen speaking to him at the airport.” I told the man that I merely translated the paging that he would be taken to the Linate airport by car. A few minutes later, the man apologized. Apparently they had located the Justice. He told me that Linate was closed due to the fog when Justice Scalia arrived there. He then told me that I was free to go.

Fast Forward

Ten days later, I am flying back to Washington D.C. from Rome on TWA, affectionately called Travel With Agony. The flight is ready to board. Who do I see? Justice Scalia waiving at me. I approached him and asked him about his travel experience. He lowered his head and whispered:“Never again!” That was the last time I saw him.

I am glad that I had the opportunity to meet Justice Scalia in person. This anecdote is one of three precious ones. The other two? Shaking the hand of President John F. Kennedy in 1960 in San Jose, California, and attending the 90^th birthday celebration of Nelson Mandela in London.

Life rewards with the rare opportunities to meet important people.