We Will Never Forget
John G. Scharf
Son
Father
Brother
Uncle
Fiance
Friend
Marine
Engineer
Gentleman
"Big Kid"
Squirrel Wrestler
A Photo of John
Electronic Technician Free-Spirited Kid at Heart
November 13, 2001
As the world watched open- mouthed during the first moments of the attack, John Scharf made two chilling phone calls from the inferno of the south tower. He told his fiance he was having trouble breathing and that he loved her, said his mother, Marie. He said pretty much the same thing to his father, his mother recalled, before adding: "'Tell Mom I love her.' Then the phone went dead."
"He was our sunshine," Marie Scharf said of the second-oldest of her five children. "He always had a smile. He knew how to press your buttons, but he could always make you laugh."
Scharf, 29, was an electronic technician for the past two years with Liebert Global Services. He was on a service call to Aon Corp. on the 103rd floor of Tower Two Sept. 11. Scharf, who lived in Manorville, and Debbie Lofee of Brookhaven were engaged to be married in August, Marie Scharf said. The couple had planned a trip to Japan last week to visit Scharf's daughter, Momo, who lives there with his former wife, Aya.
A free-spirited kid at heart, Scharf was tattooed from head to toe. His upper left arm bore an eagle with the American Flag, his upper right arm had the initials of his daughter, MCS; his outer left calf Japanese had writing and his right one a long-stemmed red rose.
He couldn't hold back the kid in him, his mother said, recalling how at a recent family barbecue her son barged into the midst of a water gun fight between children at the backyard get-together. "He was a big kid" and a Mets and Jets fan, she said.
Scharf's body has not been recovered. A memorial service was held Oct. 13 at St. Peter's and Paul Roman Catholic Church in Manorville.
-- Collin Nash (Newsday)
photo and comments:
I first meet John while stationed oversea in Japan. I was his direct supervisor. John was always on top of things. Always knew what he wanted out of life. We became good friends. My wife and me introduced him to his future wife Ayoko.
John was a good friend to many. Loved his daughter and always had her on a pedistal. She was his light. We will always carry a prayer for John in our heart.
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I went to Eastport Highschool with John. We were in the same homeroom. Sometimes we would hang out together. I am saddened by his death and how it came to be. I send my best wishes to his family. The highschool reunion will not be same without him.
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I worked at the same company as Mr. Scharf's mother. I had started about a month after the attacks and I remember seeing his "missing" poster on her car in the parking lot. I wish the Scharf family the best.***
John will always be remember for who he was.
John will always be remember for who he was. He was a great man with a great personality. If you needed help, he was there in a heart beat! It's been awhile
now and you will always be in our hearts and in our memories!!
***
John was a great friend and someone who did what he had to to do to get on track with life, he was a amazing friend when you needed someone to tell you what was a good choice for you with out him I would not be where I am and may have made the wrong choice with moving and would not have the life I do now!!! I only wish he could've seen or heard how my life turned out, I think he would've been proud of me!!!Like I am of him for doing what he had no choice to do on 9-11-01. I will never forget him or who he was and could've been!!!!
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The Big Kid of the Family
At a family reunion in Manorville, N.Y., this summer, John G. Scharf got sprayed in the face from a watergun-waving posse of young, giggling cousins. A former Marine Corps sergeant, Mr. Scharf couldn't let them get away with that. "It wasn't just retaliation, it was double retaliation," said his sister-in- law, Kim Scharf. "He wouldn't let the kids win." At 29, Mr. Scharf was the second oldest of five children, but he remained the "big kid" of the family. His encounters with life constantly earned their laughter, and inspired their awe. A favorite tale is the one about how he tangoed with a squirrel while trying to place a birdhouse in a tree in the backyard. He dangled back and forth from a limb, with the squirrel on his face, before finally getting the birdhouse just right. The squirrel survived, too.
I went to Eastport High School with John.
I went to Eastport High School with John. I found it difficult to adjust to school that year I attended, but I remember John being a friend to me. My most vivid memory of him is him putting his arm around me to give me an encouraging hug. I never saw him after 1991 but I've thought of him often this past year and I wish I could see him one last time to tell him that I always appreciated his friendship. I want his sister Christina to know she is in my prayers.
***
John was a true and great friend to many. He had a wierd sense of humor, but that is what made him fit in with the crew. He will be missed by all of his friends and family. John will always be in our hearts and memories.
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John was an Engineer who worked for me at Liebert Global Services New York District. He was always there when you needed him and often volunteered to make himself available. We all feel the burden and loss of John and pray for him and his family all the time. John often talked about his daughter (Momo) who lives with her mom in Japan. He would often mention how he was looking forward to going over to Japan and spend time with her. We will miss you my friend, it's not the same around here seeing your wonderfull smile and your careing concern for others. You are giant and an Icon who will be missed. We all Love you John and you will always have a special place in our hearts.
***
John was a gentleman who carried out service for us in the New York City area. He was
dependable and from what I understand, a man with potential to advance within our company. I cannot tell you a lot about John’s personal life but I do know this. We will miss him. Out of more than 100,000 Emerson employees, John is the only associate we lost. He is an icon and a treasure of remembrance for a day that changed many people, many companies, and many nations. I did not know John, but I love him. I miss him. We miss him.
back to 2996
On edit: Have been informed the 2996 main site is down due to volume of traffic. Raggedy has kindly supplied an alternate link to the 2996 list, here.
Blessings to all of you who have participated. Blessings to all of you who have been visiting the links to read the tributes. None of us must ever forget.
PB
I haven't figured out how to sticky John's tribute at the top of the page, so am adding this here:
11:50 p.m. 9/11/2006
I'm sitting here in tears as September 11, 2006 creeps to a close. I've read so many moving, sad, beautiful tributes that I'm full. Full of sadness. Full of memories of that horrific day. Full of love and compassion for people I never knew - and for their families, whom I will probably never know. I'm humbled as I read other tributes written by my fellow bloggers - most of whom are so much more talented than I. Please say a prayer for the family and friends of John G Scharf - and for all the other families and friends who lost loved ones that day.
PB
