Justin Scheer

Justin Scheer

Corte Madera, CA - Dr. Justin Scheer MD, FACP, who grew up in Poughkeepsie, lived most of his life in Dutchess County, and, as an Internist, practiced medicine here for nearly 40 years, died December 16, in Corte Madera, California, where he had been living with his wife, Deborah Scheer, since 2015. Dr. Scheer, a World War II veteran, was 96 years old.

A first-generation American citizen, Dr. Scheer was born in Williamsburg Brooklyn, New York, on November, 17, 1923, to parents Moe and Mary Scheer. The family moved to Poughkeepsie in the mid-1920s. He attended local public schools---WW Smith School, Krieger School and Poughkeepsie High School---as did his two siblings, his sister Fay Chazen and brother Hamilton Scheer.

At Poughkeepsie High, Dr. Scheer excelled in academics and sports, including basketball and baseball. He also loved big band jazz music, especially Benny Goodman, and he played the clarinet in the high school band.

Dr. Scheer graduated from Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, class of 1945, having completed both his degree and the naval officer V-12 training program in two and a half years. His arrival at college coincided with America's entry into World War II. After completing his studies and further naval training at midshipman's school, he was ordered to report for sea duty on the Raven minesweeper clearing Japanese anti-ship mines in the Bering Sea. In 1945 Dr. Scheer, now Lieutenant JG, fulfilled his last assignment serving as commanding officer of the Raven.

During Dr. Scheer's three years overseas he corresponded with Deborah Satz, a Poughkeepsie friend who was then a student at Oakwood School. They married in 1949 and celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2019.

Following the war, Dr. Scheer, funded by the GI Bill, went to medical school in New York City (New York Medical College) and continued his medical training in Boston (Boston City Hospital and other Boston area hospitals). In 1953, then married and a new father, he returned to Poughkeepsie to start a private medical practice.

It was a time when doctors still made house calls and got to know their patients and families. Dr. Scheer's practice was one of the largest in Poughkeepsie. By the 1960s he was treating thousands of patients in his solo practice from an office in the family home on Dwight Street. He served at both Poughkeepsie hospitals and was Chief of Medicine at Vassar Brothers Hospital. In later years, Dr. Scheer and his family moved their residence to Millbrook, New York, while he continued his medical practice from his office in Poughkeepsie.

Dr. Scheer is survived by his wife, Deborah; by his three children, Peter, Stephen and William; by eight grandchildren, Caroline, Elias, Jessie, Justin, Madison, two Michaels (one in California, the other in New Jersey), and Silas; and by daughters-in-law Anina Gerchick (married to Stephen) and Morrow Cater (married to Peter).