A Century of Service: Dick Scherzinger ’42 on Faith, Family, and Central Catholic

At 101 years old, Dick Scherzinger ’42 has witnessed more than a century of change. As a young combat engineer in World War II, he lost comrades on D-Day at Omaha Beach and helped liberate the notorious Dachau concentration camp. Later, in civilian life, he witnessed the Korean War, Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with the economic upheaval of the Great Depression and vast political and societal movements for civil and women’s rights, and the coming of the internet. When Dick was born in 1923, Calvin Coolidge was president; there have been 16 presidents in office since. Amid a century of change, however, three
of the constants that have stood the test of time for him are his family, his faith, and Central Catholic High School.

Dick can recall attending Central Catholic’s dedication with his dad in 1939, but the values that he acquired as one of 17 members of Central Catholic’s first graduating class—the Class of 1942—are what he says are the lasting legacy of his years at 24th and Stark.

“You need goals in your life,” he says, “and Central Catholic gave me those goals. To live right and to treat people right. To give in return and to serve. It’s not something that’s easy to put into words, but it’s something that builds and grows in you every day, day in and day out.”

He recalls with fondness the priests and nuns who taught him at Central Catholic. “Father Schaefers was very, very good. He was the founder of Central Catholic. And there was Father Fall.” He laughs. “Fr. Fall taught chemistry and he always had something that would blow up.”

A daily Mass attendee at the retirement community in The Dalles where he lives, Scherzinger also credits his Central Catholic teachers with helping him to develop discipline in his study and work habits and in the practice of his faith. Pulling a rosary out of his pocket, he says, “I have my daily thing here. My dad made this rosary and I
keep it with me at all times.”

He considers himself blessed to have a very close family. Glancing at three photos lined up on his mantle, he shares that he has outlived three wives, “all three of them nurses, all of them wonderful women!” He remains close with his seven stepchildren, several of whom live nearby and visit regularly. He speaks on the phone with Ann, his daughter from his first marriage, every day.

When asked if he had any advice to give to today’s Central Catholic students, he didn’t hesitate. “I would say to love and be loved by your family because they’re the ones that you always come back to. And appreciate your time at Central Catholic. The things they teach you at Central Catholic will always be with you.”

Shortly after retiring, Scherzinger discovered he had a knack for woodcarving, and in the years since, has carved dozens of replicas of the wildlife he studied during his career with the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Characteristically modest about his work, Scherzinger shrugs off comments about the intricacy and attention to detail inherent in each piece. In the photo below is one of his pheasant carvings, where each feather was individually carved, then hand painted.

While a stroke in recent years has forced the use of a cane and curtailed his ability to do wood carving, Scherzinger continues to be active in the life of his community and family. In the photo above left, he is pointing out his senior photo in the Class of 1942 composite during a visit to campus several years ago. (Class composites are displayed in the west hallway.)