Richard Jonas Scheuer

SCHEUER--Richard Jonas, age 91, died November 7, 2008. Born July 14, 1917 in Long Lake, New York, he was a real estate and construction executive, who devoted much of his time to philanthropic work. He leaves his wife, Joan, his sons Daniel and Jonathan (Debra), his daughter Marian Sofaer (Abraham), and eleven grandchildren, Michael, Helen, Joseph, Aaron, Raphael, Benjamin, Adam, Simon, Matthew, Alexander and Hannah. His son, Richard Scheuer Jr. (Sylvia) died in 1996. Dick graduated from the Fieldston School and Harvard University, class of 1939, where he majored in classics. He later earned an M.A. at NYU in ancient history. During WWII, he enlisted and served as an officer in the Army Signal Corps in Italy. He served as Board Chair of the Jewish Museum, New York, helping to reinvigorate that institution. He was Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Hebrew Union College. With Moshe Safdie as architect, he took a lead role in building the expansion, of HUC's Jerusalem campus on King David Street, Jerusalem. The campus was featured in the Venice Biennale of 1991 as one of the architectural achievements of the period. He was active in archaeology for four decades, serving on the boards of the American Schools of Oriental Research and the Albright Institute of Archaeological Research. He funded important digs and archaeological publications. Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek awarded him the highest tribute, Yakir Yerushalayim, for his many services to that city. As a longtime resident of Larchmont, New York, he helped build the local Democratic Party and served as Village Trustee. With Joan, he raced a 210 class sailboat on Long Island Sound, and spent many summers sailing the New England coast with family and friends. Funeral at Larchmont Temple, Monday, November 10, 2008 at noon.