Alfred John Schaerffer's Obituary
Alfred John Schaerffer, born in Queens, New York in 1954 to John Schaerffer and Wilma Frese (both immigrants from Germany who arrived in New York 2 years prior), passed away on January 10, 2026 at Heather Hill Healthcare Center in New Port Richey, FL at the age of 71. Alfred was the oldest of 6 children through his mother, 5 through his biological father, and one through his step-father.
Alfred was raised in New York, loving to relate tales of mischief that he and his friends would get into (like skating on the roads of New York hanging onto the bumpers of the city busses). It was in this time in New York as a little child that Alfred started to display a propensity towards auto mechanics, often looking under the fridge starting at a young age trying to figure out how the fridge operated and taking things apart and then putting them back together again.
Alfred lost his father, John Schaerffer, in 1963. His mother married her second husband, Stanley Guerra, in 1967. In the early 1970’s, after Stanley retired in New York from the New York City Transit Authority, the family moved down to Florida, eventually settling in Holiday, Florida by 1974.
Alfred was in a major motorcycle accident in the early 1970’s, badly damaging his left leg. It was relayed that it was a miracle of science at the time that his leg was saved. Despite issues that plagued him with his left leg and foot for the remainder of his life, he never let this slow him down.
His step-father, Stanley Guerra, whom Alfred spoke of with high regard, was instrumental in Alfred’s pursuing his career in auto mechanics. Stanley and Alfred would often be in the driveway working on cars together. Alfred attended Pinellas Vocational Technical College, where he pursued courses in auto mechanics, Automatic Transmission, diesel engines, and even AC for houses.
Alfred was hired by the City of Clearwater in their Fleet Maintenance division in 1981, starting with garbage trucks and then moving up to heavy equipment. At work he was nicknamed “Burt” and he would often have stories of humor and times of enjoyment with his colleagues at work. He spent 28 proud years with the City of Clearwater, retiring in 2009.
In his free time, Alfred enjoyed working on cars, and would bend over backwards to help others with their car issues. He enjoyed watching some of his favorite TV shows, including Dukes of Hazard, Sanford and Son, Pawn Stars, American Pickers, Ice Road Truckers, and Bar Rescue (in addition to many other classics). He was also known for his voracious appetite, often earning the nickname among his family and friends as “The Human Garbage Disposal.” All throughout his later life and into his time with dementia, Alfred continued to retain his healthy sense of humor and even his charm, for which many will continue to remember him by.
Alfred was predeceased by both his parents and step-father, his wife Jean, his brother Ralph, brother-in-law John Williams, sister-in-laws Diana and Denise Schaerffer, his nephews Michael “Mikey” Schaerffer and Byran Williams, and by his girlfriend Erica Gifford.
Alfred is survived by his son, John Schaerffer, his siblings Michael, Ingrid, Thomas “Moose,” and Margaret, in addition to numerous nieces and nephews.
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