6
Canisius High School Today
Canisius students assisted the mission in both projects.
Paolini’s place as the eldest in a family of 10 siblings might
have contributed to his natural inclination to service. Or per-
haps it’s his experience with his wife, Linda, of parenting four
children. Whatever the impetus, Paolini is a layman who has
committed his life to others, particularly appropriate in light of
the Society of Jesus’ focus on the
laity in its mission.
Carmelo A. Scaccia
Though bombast and ego tend to
capture the interest of the world at
large, Canisius High School this year
recognizes one of its most unas-
suming alumni. Carmelo A. Scaccia
’47 has been a long-time friend of
numerous worthy organizations. For
years, he has been an active sup-
porter and volunteer with Catholic
Charities and the United Way.
Scaccia’s benevolence also extends
to secondary and higher education
in the Jesuit tradition. In the late
1990s, he made a large financial commitment to Canisius
High School. In 2008, he and his wife committed an equally
significant gift to Canisius College.
Scaccia also served two terms on the Canisius High School
board of trustees. His tenure on the board was marked by the
regard with which fellow trustees held his opinion and counsel.
Scaccia began his worklife while attending Canisius College,
from which he graduated in 1951. His career began as a mail
clerk at Hens & Kelly Department Store. He worked there for
25 years, rising through the ranks from clerk to assistant to the
controller to vice president and treasurer of the well-respected
Buffalo retailer. He also was a member of the store’s board of
directors. In 1976, he left Hens & Kelly to become treasurer at
Hengerer’s Department Store, where he later became execu-
tive vice president and treasurer. Five years later, he made a
move to another of the city’s great retailers, Adam Meldrum &
Anderson’s, as senior vice president
and chief financial officer. He retired
from that position in 1994.
Robert D. Wischerath
According to Robert Wischerath’s ’48
sons, treating people well has always
been more important to their father
than winning. That philosophy clearly
runs through the nationally recog-
nized company the elder Wischerath
has stewarded over three decades.
After graduating from Canisius
College in 1952 with a degree in
chemistry, Wischerath joined the
United States Army. By the time of
his honorable discharge, he had attained the rank of corporal.
He began a career with the H. B. Fuller Company, becom-
ing after 15 years the director of research and development
and of domestic and international sales. Wischerath started his
own company, Chemical Marketing Associates, but relatively
quickly purchased what is now known as ACI Controls. In the
30 years since, the company has grown from $4 million to
$20 million in sales. Payroll has swelled from 22 employees to
more than 40 with an average tenure of more than 16 years, a
testament to the quality of its work culture.
Today ACI is recognized as a national leader in instrumentation
distribution and sales. Wischerath retains the titles chairman
of the board and CEO, while his five sons, Robert ’78, David
’79, Thomas ’80, John ’83 and Paul ’87, are equal partners
in running the business.
Wischerath has served as a volunteer with many organizations,
including parish advisory boards, Columbus Hospital board
of directors and the St. Vincent DePaul Society, from which
he received an award for dedication and service. He also re-
mains friends with numerous Canisius High School classmates
and has been active in all their reunions. His support of the
school grows yearly. In addition to his sons’ status as alums,
Wischerath has also seen one grandson graduate through the
Blue Doors and has two grandsons currently in attendance.
#
Send your nominations for Alumni Hall of Honor or Athletic Hall of Fame inductees to Paul Zablocki ‘01, director of
alumni and constituent relations, at 716.882.9466, alumni@canisiushigh.org or Canisius High School, 1180 Delaware
Ave., Buffalo, N.Y., 14209.
Continued from page 5