Helen (Shapiro) Scherr

Helen Lillian Scherr, 83, died Sunday, (January 8, 2006) at Baystate Medical Center with family by her side, from complications following heart surgery. She was born in Ellington on Oct. 12, 1922, the daughter of Joseph and Rebecca (Cantor) Shapiro, who had both emigrated from Russia to New York before settling in Ellington. She graduated from Rockville High School and then from New Britain Teachers College (now Central Connecticut State College), where she received a B.S. in teacher education. On Jan. 1, 1944, she married Joseph Scherr in Lincoln, NE. Following his return from the service, they lived briefly in Willimantic while her husband attended the University of Connecticut. They then moved to Enfield where they lived for more than 30 years, before spending the past 26 years in Somers. For some 10 years Mrs. Scherr taught in the Windsor Locks elementary schools. Both before and after that period she worked as a substitute teacher in the Enfield school district. An avid and wide-ranging reader, she and her husband were active in the Agawam chapter of the Great Books Foundation for many years and were also members of several local book clubs. In addition to her love of books, she was a passionate theatergoer, attending plays at various venues throughout southern New England, and a great fan of films. She had a lifelong interest in politics, current events, and world cultures, and over the years belonged to various groups that studied social and ethical issues. She also enjoyed travel, taking trips to Egypt, Israel and Russia, along with visiting much of Western Europe. Deeply devoted to her family, she received much joy in recent years from seeing the progress of her grandchildren from their earliest years through college. In addition to her husband of 62 years, for whom she was his closest friend as well as wife, survivors include two sons, Barry P. Scherr of Norwich, VT, and Richard A. Scherr of New York City, NY; and two grandchildren, Sonia and David. She was predeceased by her brother, William Shapiro. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday at the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Avenue, Hartford. Burial will follow at the Ellington Jewish Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to any affiliate of the American Heart Association or to a non-sectarian charity of one’s choice.