John Roland Scherer




John Roland Scherer, born December 13, 1926, passed away peacefully at his home in Carmel on Saturday, January 26, 2013. He was a devoted husband to Lydia “Mickey” for over 50 years. Mickey had passed away on June 12, 2000. John is survived by his daughter, Barbara and his son, John (Patti) along with five grandchildren, Chris (Melanie), Lizzy, John, Peter and Joseph, and one great grandson Tyler. We love you, Opa.

A veteran of World War II, a New York City fireman and police officer for 20 years, a long time carpenter, and Director of Veterans Affairs for Putnam County for 29 years, he also made sure to take time to give back to his community. In 1968, John and Mickey moved out of the Bronx with their two children and landed on Seminary Hill Road in Carmel, overlooking Lake Gleneida. John was heavily involved for many years with Carmel’s Veterans of Foreign Wars, “VFW,” and he also was an active member of the Carmel school board and Carmel’s newly formed Dad’s Club. John also spent a year on the road driving his wife Mickey around, while she was State President of the New York Veterans’ of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary. They loved every minute of it.

One of his greatest give-backs was when John decided to build and erect a 20-foot-high wood cross in his back yard back in the ‘70s. He proudly lit up the cross during the Christmas Holiday season for many, many years. People driving east on Rte. 6, coming from Mahopac and entering Carmel, driving along the lake, were welcomed by Big John’s cross up on the hill. His other loves of life other than his family were good friends, a cold beer, his deck overlooking the lake, and a cigar.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Monday, February 4th, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Loretto Parish, 24 Fair Street, Cold Spring, NY.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to a Veterans’ organization, an Alzheimer’s organization and/ or Hospice of Westchester/Putnam.



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