Rev. Dr. Vic Scalise is an Eagle Scout and American Baptist minister. Vic attended Mount Hermon School in Northfield, MA and Colby College in Waterville, ME. After graduating with a B.A. in history, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force and served for three years in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict. Two years were spent at Yokota Air Force Base near Tokyo, Japan. While there, in addition to being a Photo Reconnaissance Officer, he taught courses in American History, Speed Reading, and Public Speaking to servicemen. He conducted educational exchanges with the English Speaking Society at Waseda University.

Upon his return to Lowell, MA, he enrolled at Andover Newton Theological School. Over a period of 10 years, he earned his Bachelor's in Theology, Master's in Pastoral Care, and Doctorate in Administration. In addition, he took courses at Boston University Graduate School of Education, Yale Divinity School, The University of Chicago and graduated from the Program for Management Development at the Harvard Graduate School of Business. While serving for 17 years in his first pastorate at the Baptist Church in Brookline and the United Parish in Brookline, Pastor Vic was one of the chief architects of The United Parish. His book, Merging for Mission (Judson Press) tells the story of this ecumenical grassroots ministry.

For a dozen years, Dr. Scalise served as President of New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences, Boston, Massachusetts. He lectured extensively across the country on dying, death, and bereavement, and founded the National Center for Death Education. He served the National Funeral Directors Association as a resource person and as their chaplain at national gatherings for a decade. He was an on-call chaplain for 40 years at Children's Hospital in Boston, one of the most rewarding experiences of his life.