FOR NEARLY A CENTURY, THIS FAMILY-OWNED HVAC AND PLUMBING COMPANY ON THE SOUTH SHORE HAS REMAINED DEVOTED TO SERVING THE STATEN ISLAND COMMUNITY THROUGH FAR MORE THAN HEATING OR COOLING SERVICES ALONE. TODAY, ITS THIRD GENERATION OWNERS CONTINUE THE COMMUNITY FOCUSED LEGACY INITIATED

BY THEIR FATHER AND GRANDFATHER SO MANY DECADES AGO BY AMANDA McCOY PHOTOS BY AMESSE PHOTOGRAPHY

It was 1930 in New York, and Vito Scarangella noticed an opportunity in Staten Island. Hungry and hardworking, the young Italian immigrant picked up an infamously unreliable ice delivery route along the South Shore, building a reputation with his clientele for speed, professionalism, and dependability. He soon added coal to his offerings, and it didn’t take long for Scarangella to become the go-to name for reliable ice and home heating supplies in the borough. When his son, Frank Scarangella Sr., joined the operation after serving the U.S. military in WWII, the company adapted to the changing landscape to offer the latest in heating technology first oil then gas and eventually expanded to plumbing and air conditioning. Today, Scaran is a sweeping 65-employee operation, serving the entire Staten Island territory plus parts of Brooklyn and New Jersey, but it’s still very much a family business.

“In the 1930s, a big portion of the ice delivery business clientele were restaurants, so the old joke is restaurant owners would pay the ice delivery man in drink and he wouldn’t be able to finish his route,” laughed Tom Scarangello (when Vito Scarangella arrived at Ellis Island, his last name was written with an “o.” Believing the spelling change was part of the immigration process, the family kept the “o” moving forward), who, alongside his older brother Frank Scarangello Jr., took over the reins of the family business in the early ‘90s. “My grandfather built a successful business, and when my dad came aboard they were able to transition to gas heating and air conditioning. We’ve always kept up with where the industry is heading. As technology changes, we’ve changed with it.”

Tom Scarangello took his first post with Scaran in high school, scraping oil off the warehouse floors before graduating to a position in the parts department. He studied finance in college, intent on making his millions on Wall Street. Right around the time he received his degree, Scaran’s office manager retired, and Frank Sr. convinced his son to give the family business a shot.

“That was 40 years ago,” added Scarangello, who today oversees the financial wing of the company. “When my dad phased himself out in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s and passed the reins to my brother and me, we were fortunate in that he let us make our own mistakes. He was always around if we had a question, but he let us figure everything out on our own. We are both very grateful for that.”

One of Scaran’s core values is being of service to the Staten Island community, noted the co-owner, and that goes far beyond professionalism and quality of work alone. Scarangello recalled his father fervently believed in paying his success forward and investing in the community that supported his business.

“My dad strongly believed in giving back to the community that provided our living,” noted Scarangello. “He bestowed that philosophy on my brother, me, and our entire staff. It’s always been a company mantra.”

In 1967, Frank Sr. joined the board of the Richmond Memorial Hospital (the institution eventually merged with Staten Island University Hospital in 1989), and remained a member for over 50 years, up until his passing in 2013. Today, Scarangello carries on his father’s philanthropic legacy as an active member of the Staten Island University Hospital Foundation Board.

“I remember my dad telling me that as an SIUH Board member, he felt he learned far more than he gave,” noted his son. “He saw the way the hospital was managed, the high degree of professionalism and commitment to the residents of Staten Island. He brought what he learned back to the company.”

A board member since 2012, Scarangello has been personally involved in several charitable initiatives over the last decade, participating in a wide range of events from fundraising dinners to galas and golf outings. Recently, the company led a fundraiser in honor of Frank Sr. for an upcoming physical rehabilitation center on the South Shore. Scaran matched every donation dollar for dollar, ultimately raising a total of $200,000 for the new facility.

“Because of my dad’s longtime involvement with the hospital, it’s incredibly close to my heart to be able to serve on the board,” noted Scarangello. “As an organization in the community and native Staten Islanders, we strive to support organizations that make it better to live and work here. SIUH is one of the most important; they help so many people, so we are honored to support the work they do.”

The Scarangello family has had their hands in several other community organizations over the years as well. At one point in time, Frank Sr. and his two sons all served as chairman of the local chamber of commerce. Frank Jr. is a longstanding board member with the YMCA, while Tom is a former board member of Eden II, a school that supports the local autism community through education, adult day programs, residential care, family support, and more.

And while Scarangello might be known for his affable personality by his family and customers, it’s his famous “digs” that have made him a bit of a celebrity in the Staten Island business community. “Every year, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce hosts a community roast to present the Lou Miller Award, and I’ve been the MC for the past 30 years,” he said. “I’ve roasted most of the local business community. Sometimes it goes really well and they hug me afterwards, and sometimes they don’t speak to me for months [laughs].”

Scaran HVAC & Plumbing

6767 Amboy Road / 718.984.0805 / scaran.com