Below is the eulogy I wrote for the rabbi to deliver:
William "Bill" Scheck was involved in giving of himself to the community as the number of people present attest to. Despite his apparent gruff exterior, the sheer number of selfless ventures he was involved in over the years are just too numerous to list, but I would endeavor to point out just a few.
Many years ago, while still residing in Brooklyn, there was a problem with some of the residents in Crown Heights. Although he did not live in the Crown Heights area, Bill and a number of his friends started riding in a citizen's patrol to assure the safety of the populous. He and his friends were not looking for accolades but just the satisfaction of helping. One of the local Chassidic rabbi's had a little gathering at his home to thank all the people who helped and I do have to admit that I (as a very young child) did cause my father some embarrassment, when I asked the Chassidic rabbi if his food was kosher!
If you measure a man by his deeds, then a list that starts with:
And that the list goes on, just demonstrates that the proverbial yardstick is just too short of a measurement for this man's life.
The road to Bill's accomplishments come from the humble beginnings as a truck driver for a family owned warehousing company and a truck mechanic and driver in the Merchant Marines to a well respected, well read, college educated man. Despite all of his community service he still made time for family. A husband to his beloved wife of 46 years, Hedda, brother to his sister Helen and her husband Dave, father to Larry and Andrew and his wife Jackie and of course, grandfather to Genna and Wayne.
He always took diligence in his appointed job of leading the Passover Seder, constantly endeavoring to have some new topic to expound on to those gathered. As another example of some of his deeds, whenever there was an unveiling and there was a last minute difficulty or a schedule conflict with a rabbi, a call would go out to Bill and he would be there to officiate as best as he could.
For years his family had always chided him that he was behind the times. Some examples include wearing his hair in a crew cut when all around had longer hair and making sure his US flag was flying on all holidays when no one else even had a flag. He scoffed off this critique and insisted he was a trendsetter. I guess time did bear him out now that crew cuts are in style and with recent events; patriotism and flag flying are at an all time peak.
A quick observance would never lead you to believe that Bill had an extreme fondness for children, especially his two grandchildren, Genna and Wayne. Always remarking at how Genna had grown into such a lovely young lady and how Wayne got his singing talent directly from him (bypassing a generation).
I cannot possibly hope to sum up a man's life and deeds in these few words. What we have left, is just remembrances of his spirit, selflessness and life. All of our individual remembrances are probably the way William Scheck would want to be remembered. To that end, the family has requested that in Bill's honor donations can be made to American Heart Association, Deborah Hospital or Mazon (A Jewish Response to Hunger).