Gilbert Warren Schlerf

Gilbert Warren Schlerf, age 90, died peacefully in the early morning of October 11, 2023 with his loving family and caregivers nearby.

Gil is survived by five loving children Jeffrey, Rodd, Neal (Glenn), Kristen (Lauriha) and Susan (Krukiel); he was predeceased by son Thomas.  Grandpa was beloved by his ten grandchildren William, Alexander, Matthew, Elizabeth, Megan, Rachel, Brendan, Bridget, Jane and Jack.

Gil was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1933.  He was youngest child of Melchior and Mary Elizabeth Schlerf.  Gil was predeceased by brother Donald and sisters Lucille and Joyce.

He graduated third in his class at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute.  At Poly he exceled in cross country and track.  Except for occasional journeys to Ocean City Maryland, Gil did not have the opportunity to explore the world outside of Baltimore.  That changed in college.

In 1951 Gil matriculated at Cornell University.   While adjusting to college life, being far away from home and the rigors of an engineering curriculum, he played two freshman sports: lightweight football and lacrosse.  Gil also joined a fraternity, Beta Theta Pi.   These experiences and new friendships broadened his worldview and led to lifelong relationships.   After receiving a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Gil continued to be a loyal supporter of Cornell for the rest of his life.

In college Gil enrolled in the Army ROTC program. He began his five-year service commitment after graduation with an assignment at the Aberdeen Proving Ground.  Gil reached the rank of Lieutenant.  After Aberdeen he completed his service part time through a period when he got married, attended graduate school, started his family and began his career.

In 1957 Gil married Joanna Moncure Glenn, also a Maryland native. They first lived in Philadelphia while he pursued his MBA at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.  After graduation, Gil began his 41-year career with DuPont.  He and Joanna also started a family.  They lived in Wilmington Delaware, then DuPont transferred Gil to New York City (the family lived in Westfield, New Jersey) and then Topeka, Kansas (they lived in Lawrence), and eventually the family moved back to Wilmington.  For the next twenty years Gil worked mostly at DuPont’s Chestnut Run location.  He advanced in management in what became the Packaging and Industrial Polymers Department.

The Schlerf family lived in Surrey Park and the children attended nearby public schools.  Gil and Joanna encouraged their children to participate in sports starting at a young age, including swimming at Silverside Swim Club and the Wilmington Aquatic Club.  Their other activities included Brandywine Warriors football and cheerleading, Concord Baseball (Gil coached his sons’ teams) and later various sports at Brandywine High School.  He was very proud of the accomplishments of his children.  All of Gil’s children graduated from college and several earned advanced degrees in various subjects including the law.  They each pursued productive careers.

In the early 1970’s Gil and Joanna purchased a beachfront condominium at the Windjammer in Ocean City, Maryland, where the family vacationed.  He had loved visiting Ocean City since his teenage years.  He and Joanna later purchased a condominium at Ocean Trails, which Gil owned until his passing.  Besides use for family vacations, he viewed his beach home as an investment and rented the property.   Yet Gil always encouraged his family to stay and enjoy his place.  In his 40’s he developed an interest in boating and purchased a recreational craft.  His children have fond memories of their boating experiences including water-skiing adventures.

Throughout his life Gil was a passionate sports fan.  Starting in the 1950’s he followed the Orioles and the Colts, later on taking his sons to memorable games at Memorial Stadium. He became a Ravens fan after the Colts departed.  Gil was also a loyal supporter of Cornell’s teams.  His children and grandchildren inherited this passion, although to his chagrin not always rooting for his teams.

Gil and Joanna divorced in the mid-1980’s.  This was a challenging period for the family, but Mom and Dad developed new, happy lives in their own ways.  Gil married another Cornell graduate, Barbara, who lived in West Islip, New York.  He obtained a new assignment at DuPont which allowed him to move to Long Island.  Gil’s position involved interesting domestic and international travel and entertainment, and he and Barbara enjoyed that together.

Once he retired, Gil was able to travel with Barbara, enjoy boating including day trips to Fire Island, golf and socialize with friends at the Babylon Yacht Club and Southward Ho Country Club.  He also visited his children and grandchildren as they began to spread out geographically.  Gil always remembered family birthdays, faithfully sending cards and gifts. He showed his spiritual side by his involvement with Babylon Presbyterian Church.  Gil ran the Church’s “soup kitchen,” enthusiastically and successfully.

The last dozen or so years of Gil’s life presented new challenges.  First, Barbara passed away.  A few years later, Joanna suddenly succumbed to cancer, a devastating event for the family.  For his twilight years Gil moved to Maris Grove Senior Living Community in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. This relocation brought him closer to family, who could provide more support as he needed it.  Gil continued a close friendship with Judy Levy, another Cornell grad who resided in New York City.  He made new friends at Maris Grove through his final days in Memory Care.   As he celebrated his 90^th birthday recently, he became the last living family member of his generation.  His loved ones took comfort from the time they spent with Gil in his final days.  They are grateful he did not suffer from his illness for a long period and died peacefully.