03/27/2025
SCHERER
John Douglas Scherer, born August 19, 1935, died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, on Friday March 21, 2025.
Preceded in death by parents, Alice M. Scherer and Arthur J. Scherer; son Peter Scherer, and brothers Arthur T. and Christopher Scherer.
Survived by wife Ellen Crawford Scherer, son Matthew J. Scherer and daughter Nora Ellen Scherer; grandchildren, Justin and Carrie Scherer and Chance Rahnema; sisters Barbara Scherer Oberdick, Mary Alice Scherer, Kathleen Scherer Watkins, Rita Scherer Bair; brothers Stephen, Philip and Thomas Scherer; many nieces and nephews.
Douglas was a “gentleman and a scholar,” a time-worn phrase perhaps, but one that is particularly apt for him. He had discerning tastes, a calm temperament, and a kind manner. He had his moments, of course, like anyone, and could take a swipe or two at some things “modern,” especially in the field of music. History and English literature were probably his favorite subjects. For much of his life, he functioned as a repository of knowledge on these topics, as well as on the family’s forebears in Cincinnati. Unusually, he didn’t put his knowledge on display without prompting —he had to be asked for him to tell you what he knew.
Doug was also a talented piano player, a skill he began teaching himself in his early teens by listening to records of jazz artists, analyzing their chording and approach. He developed a “stride” style of his own in the tradition of famed stride pianists like Fats Waller and Willie “the Lion” Smith. Douglas’ mother had set the stage since she was a talented classical pianist. Between the two of them, the whole family was anchored in music. Many a happy night was spent listening to them play, or singing to their renditions of American standards and old-fashioned tunes of the 19th and 20th centuries.
A believer in exercise, Douglas learned to swim at the age of 40, with instruction from his wife, who’d grown up swimming and had been a guard at the old Mt. Air pool in her teens. For the next 40-plus years, he swam a half-mile daily.
Douglas made and maintained friendships from as early as first grade. Maintaining his friendships was important to him throughout his life, another sign perhaps of the importance he placed on history, in this case personal history.
He graduated from St. Charles Preparatory, followed by The Ohio State University, with advanced degrees in both History and Public Administration. He enjoyed the many years he worked in OSU Libraries, Rare Books and Manuscripts.
The whole-hearted help and support of sister-in-law Elizabeth Crawford Jennings and long-time family friend Bruce Shalter aided his peaceful death, a source of great consolation to his family.
Friends may join the family at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 29, at St. Josephine Bakhita Parish, formerly St. Elizabeth Church, 6077 Sharon Woods Blvd. Columbus 43229. Mass of Christian Burial, 12 noon, at the church. Private interment in Resurrection Cemetery at a later date.
Donations in Doug’s memory can be made to the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, PO Box 182883 Columbus, OH 43218 - 2883 or online at give.mofc.org.
Arrangements by O’SHAUGHNESSY COMPANY, call 614-221-2311 with questions.
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