Gerhard F. Schaefer

Gerhard Schaefer, 83, died on January 30, 2018 in Venice, Florida after a battle with cancer. He was born on December 21, 1934 to Ella and Georg Schaefer on a small island in the Elbe River, Germany, called Finkenwerder. After the war ended, Gerhard was appointed to learn the trade of a mason at age of 14 and began his training as a journeyman mason. In 1956 he married Erika Von Bargen and they immigrated to the United States. Upon his arrival in New York, he began work as a mason and enjoyed the American Dream. He and his wife, Erika built a home on Long Island and in 1971 they moved their family to Ellsworth, Maine. Over the years, Gerhard built a reputation for fine craftsmanship in masonry, stone and tile. In 1991 his wife Erika passed away. One of Gerhard's lifelong passions was swimming. He trained and volunteered frequently at the Downeast YMCA in Ellsworth, where he was a member of the Maine Masters Swim Club. He met Martha Samuelson in 1993 and they enjoyed many years of swimming, biking, and kayaking with many friends. Martha and Gerhard moved and retired to Venice, FL. They continued to swim in the Master's Swim Program and enjoyed the many outdoor venues that Florida offers. Gerhard later competed in the U.S. Masters Swimming Nationals, where his relay team set a world record in their age group for the 4×50 butterfly. He will be deeply missed by his family, including partner of twenty-five years, Martha Samuelson; his daughter, Kathryn and her husband, Stephen Veilleux; and son, Steven and partner, Jane Kinney. Gerhard loved being around his six grandchildren, Matthew, Marc, Rebecca, Benjamin, Sarah and Emily, and his two great grandsons, Dylan, and Luke, all who fondly knew him as Opa. A celebration of Gerhard's life will be announced at a later date this spring. In lieu of flowers, donations in Gerhard's memory can be made to Venice YMCA, 701 Center Rd, Venice, FL 34285, Downeast YMCA, 238 State St, Ellsworth, ME 04605 or Tidewell Hospice, 220 Wexford Blvd, Venice, FL 34293.