Herfried Scheer

OBITUARY PROFESSOR DOCTOR HERFRIED SCHEER After battling cancer for many years "Vati" died peacefully and courageously on December 3 with close family at his side. He leaves his beloved wife of fifty-seven years, Helga; his brother: Gerhard; his two sons: Heimo and Harald; his two daughters-in-law: Hedy and Ewa; and his five grandchildren: Peter, Adela, Steffani, Antonina and Felix. He will be dearly missed by his family, his many friends and the countless students whose lives he touched. Vati was born in Austria in 1923, started teaching in 1948 in Bad Goisern, and immigrated with Helga to Canada in 1953. They first settled in rural Alberta where Vati continued his teaching career in a one-room school house. It was there that Vati discovered Hutterite colonies and his life-long fascination for their ancient Austrian dialect. Their language became the focus of his doctoral studies, which he completed at McGill University in 1972. His greatest joy in life was teaching his students, which he tirelessly did at Concordia University until the age of eighty. His favorite pastime was singing volkslieder with young and old. The family wishes to give special thanks to Dr. Ken Flegl, who provided tremendous care to Vati for over twenty-five years. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the McGill Conservatory of Music Scholarship Fund. A memorial service to celebrate Vati's life will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, December 14 at the Loyola Chapel, 7141 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal.