Maryonda Scher

Maryonda Edmondstone was born on February 26, 1931 in Oakland, California, the only child of George Stovall Edmondstone and Onda Bowen Duck Edmondstone. The family moved to Seattle when she was 12; through the rest of her life in the Pacific Northwest, California poppies made her homesick. In Seattle, she attended Franklin High School, and the University of Washington, skipping three years ahead in the process. She was the first college graduate in her family. She went on to the UW Medical School, where she met Allen M. Scher, PhD, and they married in 1952. Maryonda received her M.D. in 1954, when she was 23 - one of only two women in her class. She practiced psychiatry for over 40 years, first at the VA in Seattle, and later at Harborview Medical Center. She was passionate about her work and spent the majority of her career helping veterans who suffered from schizophrenia, substance abuse, PTSD, or all three. She had a soft spot for men, and for veterans in particular, staunchly maintaining, even as dementia gripped her, that John McCain was cute. Maryonda also taught at the UW medical school, where she was voted Best Teacher of the Year. Maryonda touched many lives as a doctor and mentor. Very small in stature, she was charismatic and forceful. Her favorite pastime was gardening. Her strong moral compass compelled her to send her children out into the neighborhood on a mission to distribute surplus zucchini (an activity referred to as squash patrol). She could not be beaten at Scrabble. She was an imaginative cook and a strong soprano. Maryonda died January 31, 2018, after enduring dementia for many of her last years. Her husband Allen predeceased her in 2011. She is survived by her children, Celia Scher Wagner and John Hoagland-Scher, their spouses, and her granddaughters, Anne Marie Wagner, Irene Scher and Hazel Scher, all of whom are indebted to her for making their lives much richer.

Private services will be held by the family. In lieu of flowers, donations in Maryonda's honor to the University of Washington Medicine Fund, or to Meals on Wheels would be most appreciated.

Please sign Maryonda's online Guestbook at www.Legacy.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Seattle Times from Feb. 4 to Feb. 5, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Maryonda Scher

Sponsored by The Family.

9 Entries

Kathy Savitt

January 11, 2022

Dr Asher saved my life in more ways than I can count. I didn´t get to tell her that enough. She was a blessing to her patients, colleagues, students and community.

Nancy Opsata, RN

October 6, 2021

I was working in the ER at Harborview after graduating from UW in 1970. As a UW employee, I had an employee benefit of being able to take up to 5 credits/quarter tuition free, and one of the classes I took was Psychiatry for non-medical students, taught by Dr Scher, and which included a weekly session in diagnostic interviewing for medical students, one session of which which we were required to attend.. When that class ended, she let me know that any Harborview employees were welcome to attend that diagnostic interviewing class any time, and so I became a regular attendee. One day, in a group of all-male med student, a gentleman patient was interviewed, and the student interviewing him, as well as all the other med students, determined that he was schizophrenic. Dr. Scher asked if there were any other opinions about the diagnosis, and I timidly raised my hand and shared my opinion that the patient was manic-depressive, which was the correct diagnosis. At the end of that class, one of the med students asked that there not be any non-med students present for this class, but as we left the room. Dr. Scher said I should come back next week and see what happens. I continued to attend the weekly class, and I continued to learn, to the point that I would occasionally do psychiatric evaluations in the ER when my nursing duties allowed and the assigned intern requested. My next job was as a psychiatric partial hospitalization program coordinator, where I stayed for 35 years, until I retired. I think of Dr. Scher often, and I will never forget her excellent teaching and support.

Matthew Romanelli

August 25, 2019

Maryonda, Maryonda... I had a dream about her last night and thought I would look her up to see how she was... this is what I found. I suppose I could say I was a student of hers as well; in horticulture. I was her home gardener for years; how many I do not recall. We constantly shared ideas and information on new plants, gardening concepts, growing techniques, combinations of color palettes for annual and perennials displays. She was as phenomenal in her passion for gardening as she apparently was in her work at the office/school/hospital. She helped me in ways I do not have the space to share here. I cherish our time together and will forever hold it close. God Bless you and your family. Matthew

January 28, 2019

Please accept my heartfelt condolences on the death of your dear love one may God give you strength to endure this most difficult time of your life please read John 6:40

Gayle Schneider

February 28, 2018

Maryonda was my first supervisor at Harborview, teaching me, empowering me, supporting me, raising my expectations of myself, and becoming a valued friend. She was passionate about teaching and helping to improve the lives of her patients. She also had a great sense of humor, and truly appreciated the joke the year we convinced her that she'd won the Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes, ultimately framing her "notification letter." She truly made the world a better place.

Ruth Kohen

February 28, 2018

Dr. Scher was one of my first teachers in the Psychiatry Residency training program at the University of Washington. I worked with her shortly after my arrival "fresh off the boat" (from Europe), to become a psychiatrist in the US. I cherish the month I spent learning under her supervision. That month is now 30 years in the past, but I still benefit from the teaching, wisdom, and experience Maryonda was able to pass on to me in such a short time. I am very grateful to her, and will always remember her with fondness.

Deborah Paul

February 9, 2018

Dear Celia, So sorry to read about your mother's passing. I actually had several occasions to chat with her at social events over past years as we are neighbors with one of her colleagues/friends, David Avery, and his daughter is one of my daughter's best friends. It was always a pleasure to connect with her, and hear about you and your family.

Christos Dagadakis

February 5, 2018

Maryonda taught me many things as medical student,resident psychiatrist,fellow attending psychiatrist and faculty member at the UW school of Medicine. Even today I taught several student one of her pearls of knowledge. I passed it forward and others will also do so. In it as many things she lives on.

Peter Brunner

February 5, 2018

My very sincere condolences.

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