About Us

Senior Chief Scott DeCoste was born in Framingham, Massachusetts, and raised in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. After graduating from Woonsocket High School in 1984, he proudly served his country in the United States Navy until his retirement in January 2007. Following his 23 years of service, Scott began a new career as a Sales Manager with the Southern Auto Group in Chesapeake, Virginia, where he worked until his passing in 2015.

Scott was devoted to his family and found joy in fitness through CrossFit Krypton. A lifelong New England Patriots fan, he spent the last 10 years of his life as a proud season ticket holder, never missing a chance to cheer on his team. True to his nature, Scott lived by the motto “Go Big or Go Home”—giving his all in everything he did.

On August 31, 2015, after a brief but courageous eight-week battle with a service-connected cancer, Scott passed away at the age of 49. He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Lisa, his children, and his grandchildren, who continue to carry forward his spirit and legacy.

The Senior Chief Scott DeCoste Memorial Scholarship is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, established on June 13, 2016, with the mission of keeping Senior Chief DeCoste’s memory alive by helping others and making a lasting impact.

Each year, we award scholarships to deserving high school seniors in Rhode Island and the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, with a strong focus on supporting military-connected students.

Scholarship Eligibility:

Rhode Island:
Scholarships are awarded to graduates of Woonsocket High School, Scott’s alma mater. In addition, we offer scholarships to high school seniors from military families across Rhode Island, regardless of the school they attend. Eligible military parents may be active duty, veterans, or deceased.

Hampton Roads, Virginia:
In honor of Scott’s love for the Navy, scholarships are awarded to high school seniors from military families in the Hampton Roads area. Eligible military parents may be active duty, veterans, or deceased.

In 2017, we also launched our “Pay It Forward” initiative in Scott’s memory on his birthday, July 21. Each year, we invite individuals to perform a good deed in his honor. What began as a local gesture has grown into a global movement, with participants from numerous states and several countries joining together to spread kindness.