Linda E. Scher, of Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, passed away December 18, 2023.

Born December 5, 1941, Linda was a cherished daughter, sibling, aunt, friend, and role model to many. She was predeceased by her parents, Esther (Gellman) Scher and Louis Scher, and by her younger sister Susan Weiner. Linda was treasured by her surviving siblings, older sister Toby Elman, and brother Irwin (Marilyn), as well as by three  generations of nieces and nephews. The list of colleagues, students, friends, and extended family who blessed her life knows no bounds.

Linda was raised in Albany, New York and prepared for her dual careers in Art and Art Education in her studies at SUNY New Paltz and Queens College, where she obtained a Master's Degree in Art Education. Linda's deep affinity with young people and her devotion to art led to a lengthy career as a public school teacher. Constantly drawing on her love of learning to enrich the lives of her students, Linda taught ceramics, drawing, painting, art history, and countless life-lessons. She designed, established, and co-taught a multi-disciplinary honors course in Humanities to expand her students' horizons. Through teaching she touched the lives of many students, primarily at Hempstead High School, for over three decades. Linda also shared her love of tennis with students at Hempstead High, coaching both the boys' and girls' teams. Some of these students garnered athletic scholarships enabling them to attend college.

Throughout her life Linda enjoyed a lengthy career as an artist, focusing on painting in acrylics. Her work has shown in New York at the Salmagundi Club, the National Academy of Art, the Parrish Art Museum, and the Saratoga Art Show, not to mention the many art shows along the eastern seaboard from Maine to Washington D.C. In addition, she was awarded two opportunities to act as artist-in-residence; in Johnson, VT and Hempstead Public Schools in NY and wrote an article in the New York Times titled: "Why Are You Painting Here?", capturing her experience. Adding to her legacy is a permanent file in the National Museum of Women in the Arts, in Washington, DC.

Once retired, Linda joined The Society of Clinton Hill and chaired for several years its House Tours. She ventured further and through a partnership owned buildings in the Brooklyn area and became a member of Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project (MARP) strengthening her community involvement.

She enjoyed her many passions, especially as Deputy Director of V-ELMS, helping to execute an after-school model for under served children along with friend, colleague, collaborator, and Founding Director, Brett Truitt. Linda took great pleasure in brownstones, jazz, gardening, museums, playing tennis, spending time with friends and family, and the travels that took her through five continents.

Linda's talent as an active listener fueled a profound capacity to provide a unique and compassionate perspective to many. Her genuine interest in understanding people deeply as well as exploring different cultures and their languages, art, and customs led her to become a thoughtful and discerning teacher, coach, leader, and friend.

A celebration of life is currently being planned.

Donations in Linda's name may be made to some of her favorite charities: Brooklyn Botanical Garden Corp., The Municipal Art Society, New York Public Radio, and Virtual Education Life Skills Mentoring Services, Inc. (V-ELMS).