George Frank Scherer

George was born in Manhattan, New York on November 18, 1942. He is the son of George and Veronika Scherer, of German and Hungarian heritage, who entered the United States through Ellis Island. Young George enjoyed a Manhattan, New York upbringing and loved helping with the Scherer Family Bakery business. As a teenager, his family moved to Germany, where he attended high school and eventually became fluent in what he calls the celestial language of German. George attended the University of Miami as an undergraduate student studying Biology and Chemistry, with additional studies in Architecture. While attending college, he met his beautiful wife, Eva, and fell deeply in love. George and Eva have known one another for 66 years and as Eva tripped and fell to George’s feet upon their first meeting in the 1960s, George also collapsed and fell to her feet in his final moment. Their love story is powerful and divinely designed, leading to an eternal union sealed together for time and all eternity in the Washington DC Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Upon graduating from the University of Miami, George attended the University of Vienna Medical School for one year. He then transferred to the University of Florida School of Medicine, where he graduated with his Medical Doctorate and subsequently attended Residency in Internal Medicine, also at the University of Florida Shands Hospital. During this time as a young medical doctor, he served as Captain in the United States Army as a Reserve Commissioned Officer for 8 years, honored to serve his country. Soon after completing his Medical Residency training, he opened up his private Internal Medicine Practice in Sarasota, Florida.

Up until the day George lost consciousness, he was still practicing medicine and visiting with patients. Caring for his patients and helping those in need were two of his greatest passions. George dedicated his life to serving, lifting, helping, and healing his patients. Often described as a man of character with gregarious gifts, he absolutely was an endearing physician to his patients, making himself available at all hours of the day, greeting them enthusiastically with his various versions of Yiddish, Russian, Italian, French, and whatever might be the language of the day, for the patient of the day. He had a gift for entertaining and uplifting even the most concerned of patients, while still sharing genuine compassion for their health care needs. Truly, his patients were his friends. He loved them dearly.

George’s greatest treasure was his family. He adored his beautiful wife, Eva, cared for her devotedly, and supported her artistic oil painting talents, providing her with canvas after canvas, frame after frame, filling their home with her stunning creations. George loved his 7 children (George, Marlene, Erik, Ingrid, Kurt, Philip, & Jakob), provided them with the opportunities to learn musical instruments, and shared the tools to be successful, educated, and hardworking. Never missing a concert, track meet, or ballgame, George was always the first to arrive with his camera and video tools in tow, scouting out the best seats to see his children, and supporting them in their many endeavors. He was the most dedicated photographer and videographer, capturing everything his entire life on film, and in his heart.

George and his dear wife, Eva, created an atmosphere in which their children could thrive spiritually and strive to serve Heavenly Father. Several of the children served as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints speaking Portuguese, German, Dutch, and Vietnamese, sharing musical talents, and spreading the joy of Jesus Christ and His Gospel to people all over the world. This legacy of faith has continued on to the next generation of grandchildren, with his 3 oldest grandchildren sharing their love and their faith as missionaries speaking Spanish, Italian, and Georgian in various parts of the world, with more grandchildren planning to serve when old enough. George was intrigued by the variety of cultures, faiths, and languages that his children and grandchildren experienced while serving as missionaries.

True to his benevolent and giving character, George collapsed near the end of his life while in the middle of an act of generosity for his children and their families. George always desired to give, and it is so fitting that his final moment of consciousness was in simply being like Christ, in generously giving and being a blessing to others. In his later years, George’s grandchildren brought him his greatest joy. George, alongside Eva, enjoyed the great blessing of helping raise their granddaughter, Ahmari, who lovingly returns this nurturing support to her grandparents. George will be missed by all of his family, but most especially by his grandchildren, with whom he spent countless hours entertaining, playing Balderdash, Scattergories, chess, billiards, tennis, swimming, relaxing at the beach, talking on the phone, bike riding, and enjoying his garden and yard together. He was so happy to hold, hug, and kiss the newborns and his littlest grandbabies, and so grateful to visit and converse for hours with his older grandchildren. George’s grandchildren felt his love as he extended heartfelt, genuine, and truly deep love for each of them. He loved his family only one way and that was completely!

In addition to treasuring his family and appreciating the opportunity to practice medicine for so many years, George had a gift for architecture and landscaping. He designed and built his Sarasota home, where he has resided for 47 years. Utilizing many aspects of European architecture and design, George filled his home with family, music, and the many artifacts and collectables that he enjoyed displaying because he simply liked collecting and admiring beautiful things. His backyard was his haven, a place of solace, and landscaping was his passion. George spent hours daily outside in his garden and his yard trimming hedges, planting bushes, and creating what he deemed his “European Garden.” He absolutely succeeded as it truly resembles just that. We hope we can honor George and keep up with his gardening dreams and aspirations.

We know that through the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives, that there is life after Earthly death. We know that through Heavenly Father’s Great Plan of Happiness, that we will be reunited with loved ones who have passed on beyond the veil, as families are eternal. We know with certainty that George will be and has been an angelic gift to each of us. May God be with us until we meet again!

George is survived by his wife, Eva Maria, and their 7 children and 21 grandchildren, which include his son George Karl Scherer (Jennifer) and grandson Jordan, daughter Marlene Ann Scherer and granddaughter Ahmari, son Erik Alexander Scherer (Masami) and grandson Kai, daughter Ingrid Katerina Scherer Roberts (Michael) and grandchildren Julianna, Ashley, Thomas, Andrew, Katerina, Eva, and Susannah, son Kurt Friedrich Scherer (Allison) and grandchildren Isabella, Joshua, Brigham, and Hailey, son Philip Maximilian Scherer (Natalie) and grandchildren Maximilian, Lorelei, Gisele, and Celeste, and son Jakob Nikolai Scherer (Sarah) and grandchildren Leia, Alexander, and Asher. George was preceded in death by his parents, George & Veronika Scherer, and his brother, Robert Scherer.

A public viewing will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (7001 S. Beneva Rd., Sarasota, FL, 34238) on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 from 9:00 AM-9:45 AM, followed by a private family viewing from 9:45 AM – 10:00 AM. After the viewing, there will be a memorial service at 10 AM, also at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sarasota, Florida.

The family would like to thank heroic granddaughter Ahmari, neighbors Dave and Donna Disbro, the paramedics, and the ER and ICU teams at Sarasota Memorial Hospital for their quick action, guided medical intervention, and compassionate care during George’s most challenging moments and during his stay in the ICU. Sarasota Memorial Hospital is very dear to Dr. Scherer, as he cared for his patients at that very hospital since the 1970s, where most of his children were born, ultimately becoming a sacred place for him.