In this two-part episode, Dr. Christina Zampitella sits down with licensed marriage and family therapist Marcus Scarfo for an open and heartfelt conversation about what it’s like to grieve the loss of a grandparent — particularly when that grandparent played a central, stabilizing role in the family.
Marcus shares the story of his grandfather’s death and how it quietly unraveled parts of his identity, relationships, and sense of emotional safety. Together, they explore how grief shows up in adult grandchildren, how family systems shift after a loss, and why the death of a grandparent is often underestimated or overlooked.
This episode invites reflection on the layers of grief, the importance of rituals, and the subtle ways we search for emotional grounding when we lose someone who once provided it.
Chapters
00:00 – Welcome and episode overview
01:02 – Introducing guest: Marcus Scarfo, LMFT
02:25 – What made Marcus’s grandfather so special
04:20 – How grief hit differently as an adult
06:10 – Recognizing secondary losses after death
08:40 – Family roles and dynamics shifting
10:50 – The emotional undercurrent of stability and safety
13:30 – Disenfranchised grief around grandparents
15:00 – The complexity of letting go of family traditions
17:25 – Navigating grief as a therapist
19:00 – How Marcus’s grief impacted his work and relationships
21:12 – Closing reflections and what’s coming in Part 2
💬 Have you ever felt the ripple effects of losing a grandparent?
Share your experience in the comments or tag someone who might relate.
🔔 Subscribe to catch Part 2 next week, where Dr. Z and Marcus go deeper into the healing process, internalized messages around masculinity and grief, and how to keep someone’s legacy alive.
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