John Scalo, a self-made businessman who co-founded a home roofing company in a Pittsburgh garage and grew it into a thriving enterprise that now includes major commercial contracts and a prominent real estate portfolio, died Monday of prostate cancer at his home in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. He was 78.

Mr. Scalo, the son of Italian immigrants and one of the youngest children in a family of 14, grew up on Mount Washington and graduated from South Hills High School.

He met his future partner, Richard "Duke" Burns, in the late 1940s while both were working as roof laborers. After Mr. Scalo served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, he returned to his hometown and teamed with Mr. Burns to launch Burns & Scalo Roofing in 1956 in a garage in the city's Bon Air neighborhood.

The pair worked on residential roofs during the day and spent evenings marketing their company, said Mr. Scalo's son, Jim Scalo of Fox Chapel, who runs Burns & Scalo Real Estate.

"It wasn't until they decided to get off the roofs and hire other people that the business grew," he added.

The company moved from the city to Bridgeville and the partnership thrived, Jim Scalo said, because, "They never questioned each other. Both worked their independent roles and never second-guessed each other. I would say that my dad was more involved in sales and Mr. Burns more with the operations."

By the time Jim Scalo and his twin brother, Jack, of Collier, joined the business full time in the early 1980s, Burns & Scalo had accumulated a portfolio of property investments comprised mainly of apartments and land in the South Hills. Jim Scalo was charged with managing the real estate holdings while Jack Scalo learned the roofing business.

Both sons had worked at the business as teenagers and during college as did their sister, Lisa Scalo McMenamin of Peters, who then pursued a career in interior design.

"He did not micromanage us. He let us make mistakes at his expense," said Jim Scalo. "It was a huge learning curve for us. And he really stressed value. He said you have to provide value to the customer first and the money will follow. The greatest asset he gave us was a great reputation and a brand we could continue to build on ..."

The roofing business generated about $30 million in sales last year, employs about 250 and has divisions in Raleigh, N.C., and Columbus, Ohio, said Jack Scalo. Its recent commercial contracts include the U.S. Steel Tower, the Rivers Casino on the North Shore, and the Providence Point retirement complex in Scott.

Burns & Scalo's real estate portfolio now includes about 3 million square feet of office and warehouse space, including the Bursca Business Park in Bridgeville; offices in the Southpointe complex in Cecil, Washington County; and the Goodwill Building on the South Side.

The founders retired from the company in the mid-1990s and Mr. Scalo relocated with his wife, Patricia, to Florida where he golfed several times a week and was active running a golf league. Mr. Burns lives in Upper St. Clair.

Mr. Scalo never regretted retiring and was content to turn over the business to his sons because that was his long-range plan, they said.

"He never looked back and that's really difficult for an entrepreneur to do," said Jim Scalo. "I think he was ready because he had a wonderful marriage and social calendar. That allows people to let go."

"It was really a rags-to-riches story so by the time he hit 65, he had worked so hard that he was ready to retire," Jack Scalo said of his father.

Though he was removed from the company's day-to-day operations in his final years, Mr. Scalo was concerned about keeping the business in the family for future generations.

When his medical condition worsened several weeks ago, he asked his oldest grandson, Jack Scalo's son, Johnny, what his plans were, said Jack Scalo.

"Would he run the business as the third generation? That was one of the closure items Dad wanted and he received it. So the business will perpetuate."

In addition to his wife, sons and daughter, Mr. Scalo is survived by eight grandchildren.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated today at St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. A memorial Mass will be held at noon, July 2 at St. Louise de Marillac Church in Upper St. Clair.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Palm Beach County, 5300 East Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33407.