Obituary
SPRINGFIELD - Jeffrey M. Scheidecker, 46, died on Tuesday, November 26, 2002 at Baystate Medical Center, after a courageous battle with lymphatic cancer. He was born in New London, CT to Clara Banta Scheidecker and predeceased by the late Irvin Scheidecker. Throughout his childhood, he was very active at St. Bridget of Kildare Catholic Church in Moodus, CT, where he was instrumental in starting the church's first folk group. Jeffrey graduated from Xavier High School, with honors, and attended Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY, where he studied communications, and was inducted into the Alpha Epsilon Chi service fraternity in 1975. Jeffrey was a gifted broadcast journalist who began his extensive 23-year career in both radio and television reporting and anchoring, at which time he received two coveted Emmy Awards for outstanding broadcast journalism. The bulk of his career was spent in television management including News Director positions at stations in Syracuse, NY; Greensboro, NC; South Bend, IN; and Orlando, FL. He also traveled around the country performing consulting work for other television stations. He moved to the Springfield area in 1997 to take the position of Operations Manager at WGGB-TV. Most recently he was the Executive Director of the Springfield Area Council for Excellence. This year he named one of the "Top Ten Business People to Watch" by the Springfield Union-News. Jeffrey enjoyed being active at Trinity United Methodist Church, where he served on the Board of Trustees, and the Boards Head Committee. He was also a member of the board of directors for HCS Head Start and the Springfield Cultural Council. Jeff was a kind man of deep faith who loved his family dearly. He was an excellent orator, writer and visionary. He will be greatly missed by his wife, Annette Tyler Scheidecker; and their young sons, Matthew and Christopher; children, Michael and Katrina Scheidecker of Syracuse, NY; his mother, Clara Scheidecker of East Haddam, CT; his brother, Paul Schmelke and wife Tina Lawson of Windham, CT; brother, Richard Schmelke and wife Alphie of North Port, Florida. Visiting hours are Friday, November 29, 2002 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Byron's Funeral Home at 1858 Allen St., Springfield. Friends and family are invited to celebrate Jeff's life during funeral services Saturday, November 30, 2002 at 10 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, located at 361 Sumner Ave. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Park Cemetery. A reception will be held in Asbury Hall at Trinity United Methodist Church after the interment. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Educational Fund for Matthew and Christopher Scheidecker at 106 Gillette Circle, Springfield, MA 01118. For directions and guest book, please visit www.bhrfh.com. Published in the Union-News and Sunday Republican from 11/27/2002 - 11/28/2002.
