Deepa BharathRandy Scheerer was the man everyone...

Deepa Bharath

Randy Scheerer was the man everyone wanted to be like.

The Newport Beach Fire Department Training Division chief taught,

trained and mentored hundreds of young firefighters in the 20 years

he taught at Santa Ana College.

Several of them came to Scheerer’s memorial service organized by

the Newport Beach Fire Department at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa on

Monday. Scheerer died Dec. 20 of a heart attack. He was 53.

The solemn ceremony on Monday was attended by at least 250 people,

including firefighters and officials from several departments. Costa

Mesa Fire Department’s Color Guard honored Scheerer while bagpipers

from the Orange County Fire Authority played “Amazing Grace.” Newport

Beach Fire Chief Tim Riley concluded the service by ringing a bell

three times to signify the “firefighter’s last call.”

Riley read out a list of Scheerer’s accomplishments over the

years. He joined the Newport Beach Fire Department in 1975 at a

salary of $907 a month, Riley said. He rose through the ranks

steadily, won the department’s Firefighter of the Year award in 1983

and the Orange County Overachiever Award twice.

“I personally know of no other person who has packed so much in 53

years,” Riley said. “And it’s not just this list of accomplishments

that sets Randy apart but how he inspired his students and the way he

helped people and touched their lives.”

Kevin Tiscareno, a Newport Beach firefighter for two years, said

Scheerer “inspired” him.

“He was always there to help his students and always made time for

them,” he said. “If it weren’t for Chief Scheerer, I wouldn’t be here

today.”

He looked up to Scheerer as a senior firefighter and as a mentor,

Tiscareno said. He recalled an instance when, as he was trying out

for a position in Newport Beach, he got the opportunity to go to

Europe for a semester.

“I was wondering whether to go or not,” Tiscareno said. “But Chief

Scheerer encouraged me to take the chance and go. We both shared a

common interest -- traveling.”

When Tiscareno got back from Europe, he took the tests and got the

job, he said.

“Chief Scheerer helped me and guided me through the whole process,

as he has helped and guided many, many others,” he said.

Scheerer was a “master juggler,” said retired Newport Beach Fire

Capt. Axel Zanelli, who choked up as he remembered a good friend.

“He wore a number of hats,” he said. “It was like he had this hat

rack that kept spinning constantly.”

His family -- wife Marilyn, son Mark and daughter Lisa -- always

came first for Scheerer, Zanelli said.

Marilyn Scheerer said she has been overwhelmed this past week by

the show of support from fire officials as well as the community.

“He always put me and the children ahead of everything,” she said

after the service. “We will always remember him as a loving person

who enjoyed everyone and loved to help everyone.”

Church was a significant part of Scheerer’s life. He was part of

the men’s ministry at Calvary Chapel and put in a number of hours to

get the church’s high school computerized.

“He always said he did that so my time would be freed up and he

could spend more time with me,” said Marilyn, who worked at the high

school.

Sarah Cornwell said Scheerer saved her and her twin brothers after

they were in a car crash in Corona del Mar seven years ago.

“He responded to that crash, and when he got there, one of my

brothers didn’t have a heartbeat,” she said. “He took care of us. He

was a loving man and a very friendly person.”

Cornwell knew Scheerer even before the accident. She and

Scheerer’s son, Mark, were classmates as well as best friends, she

said.

Also in attendance was Brian Slater, the Newport Beach fire

paramedic who got into a body boarding accident during the Labor Day

weekend. He was in critical condition, but is now recovering.

Slater said his department has had a “rough year.”

“I feel blessed to even be here today,” he said.

The department lost Al Schmehl, who died of brain cancer in

August, and then Slater to injury.

“Randy was a wonderful guy,” said Slater, who is going through

physiotherapy. “He’s an example of what we should live our lives

like.”

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.