Joseph J. Scalabrin Jr., of Pataskala, Ohio, died Aug. 19, 2008, at Mount Carmel Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

      Born and raised in Butte, Joe graduated in 1957 from Butte High School, and in 1962, earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Montana State University.   A year later, he received his master’s degree from Columbia University in New York.

      Following graduation, Joe received a fellowship to travel to Europe for six months.   Upon his return, he went to work from 1964 to 1967 for John Carl Warnecke in San Francisco.

      In 1967, Joe moved to Baltimore, Md., and joined the architectural firm of RTKL.   That same year, he met and married his wife of 40 years, Amanda.

      Rising quickly through the ranks, he became a vice-chairman and principal member of RTKL and led the office in Dallas, Texas, before he moved to Columbus, Ohio, to work for The Limited.   He was senior vice president of store planning when he retired in 2004.

      During his professional career, Joe was also involved in helping the community by serving on the board of advisors with the school of architecture at Montana State University and the board of directors at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio.

      Throughout all his accomplishments, Joe was a devoted husband and loving father, and later grandfather.   For those of us whose lives he touched, he will forever be remembered as a beautiful soul whose spirit will be greatly missed.

      He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Beatrice Scalabrin Sr.;  his sister and brother-in-law, Marlene and Ted Lange, and nephew, Robbie Semsak.

      Survivors include his wife, Amanda Scalabrin;   son, Miles Scalabrin, and grandchildren, William and Katharine, Peoria, Ariz.;   sisters, Brenda (Rick) Casqueiro, Richland, Wash., and Berni (David) Seibel, Sisters, Ore.;   brothers, Bob (Dee) Scalabrin, Butte, and Phil Scalabrin, Azusa, Calif.;   and nieces and nephews, Brittany Scalabrin, Honolulu, Hawaii, Nick and Kris Casqueiro, Richland, Wash., Kym (Louie) Brown, Elk Grove, Calif., Nathan Seibel, O’Fallon, Mo., Jason and Shane Scalabrin, Azusa, David Scalabrini, and Debbie (Jim) Welch, all of Covington, Wash.

      A celebration of Joe’s life will be held at noon Friday, Sept. 5, at the Schoedinger Northeast Chapel, 1051 E. Johnson Road, in Gahanna, Ohio.

      In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe’s name may be made to the AIA Columbus Scholarship Fund, Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture at The Ohio State University, 275 W. Woodruff Ave., 200G, Columbus, Ohio 43210.

      The family invites you to sign their online guest book at www.schoedinger.com to share memories and extend condolences.