Hugh 'Sig' S. Scigliano, 84
Hugh "Sig" S. Scigliano, known to his grandchildren as "Papa Mustache," passed peacefully at home in Henderson, Nevada, on Oct. 25, 2024, surrounded by his beloved family, at the age of 84.
A celebration of his life and legacy will be held in June 2025 in Kalispell.
He was born Umberto Salvatore Americo Scigliano, in Flint, Michigan on April 17, 1940, to Achille and Maria (DiLiguori) Scigliano. The youngest of six, Sig was the embodiment of a baby brother with his loyalty and humor. He joined the Air Force and found himself stationed in Lakeside, which quickly became home and held a special place in his heart for the rest of his life. He met his soulmate, Patricia Hindman, in Kalispell, and they were married on March 27, 1963, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. They spent over 60 adventurous years together, raising their two beautiful children, Sheila and Robert. Life took them all over the country, but they always returned home to Kalispell, thanks in part to Sig’s successful 40-year career as a senior service engineer with Foxboro.
Sig was a man of many talents and boundless energy in his younger years. He could often be found tinkering with electronics, grilling and cooking a feast, fixing cars, or building decks and docks with his ingenuity. He embraced life outdoors — boating, waterskiing, ice skating, snowmobiling, ice fishing with his brother-in-law, Bob, and enjoying the North Fork cabin with his brother-in-law, Gus. Always up for a road trip, he had every backroad and highway mapped out in his mind, often taking his family along for the ride. He loved hosting friends and family, especially if he was the cook. Sig was witty and had a knack for giving everyone in the family their own ridiculous nickname, a tradition that lives on with his grandkids.
In his later years, Sig savored simple pleasures: splitting his time between Montana, Arizona, and Nevada; breakfast at his favorite spot, Nickel Charlie’s; reminiscing about the good ol’ days; spending hours in the kitchen crafting his spaghetti sauce and soups; reading the Wednesday ads; wearing his signature navy blue polo; enjoying a laugh; and causing mischief at the grocery store. He was endlessly proud of his family and celebrated each of their achievements with pride. Sig brought laughter, kindness, and a zest for life to all who knew him.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Patricia; his children, Sheila Scigliano-Zografos and Robert (Kathryn) Scigliano; his dear brother, Alfred Scigliano; his sisters-in-law, Ilee (Allen) Gustafson and Tana Little (Bill Carr); his brother-in-law, Robert (Charmaine) Hindman; grandchildren, Laken (Jeff) Anderson, Alexandra Zografos, Emilia (Jay) Dobson, Kyle Scigliano, and Brandon Scigliano; and great-grandchildren, Mason Anderson, Francesca Anderson, Emilia Anderson, and soon-to-arrive Nico Hugh Dobson, whom he was so looking forward to holding. Many nieces, nephews, and cousins will remember him fondly as "Uncle Bert."
He was preceded in death by his sisters, Emilia Harris, Caterina Benicia Gillikin, and Livia Varady; his brother, Archibald Scigliano; and his devoted four-legged companion, Hatfield.
In lieu of flowers, please consider raising a glass, sharing a story about Sig, and donating to your local animal rescue in his honor — a cause he held close to his heart.