Gerald "Jerry" Schanz

Gerald A. "Jerry" Schanz, age 55, passed away in the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts on Thursday, October 15, 2015. Born in Bristol, Connecticut on March 30, 1960, he was the son of the late Gerald A. and Margaret (Tew) Schanz. He moved with his family to Torrington, Connecticut, where he graduated from Torrington High School with the Class of 1978. Jerry continued his education at Connecticut College, earning his Bachelor's Degree in Botany and Philosophy in 1982. In 1980, during college, he met his wife Carol Walsh.

After graduation, Jerry spent five years in Nantucket as a painter. Carol joined him for his last two years. They were married on May 9, 1987 and spent two months backpacking through Europe. They settled in Boston soon after.

Jerry started his career as a paralegal with Palmer and Dodge and began taking courses in data science at the Harvard Extension School. In 1989, Jerry and Carol settled in Sharon, Massachusetts. He started his 19 year career at Liberty Mutual in October of 1996, eventually becoming Director, Advanced Analytics.

Jerry was a passionate chef, gardener, and scholar. A lifelong learner and voracious reader, he passed his love of learning on to his children. He challenged their views and encouraged thoughtful debate with humour, playfulness and quick wit. He also just loved making people laugh.

He played softball and basketball in local Sharon leagues. Jerry also enjoyed working on puzzles, playing cards, and programming.

Jerry had a boundless love for his wife, Carol. Together they found ways to make the everyday moments special. Every day at 11:11, Jerry would stop what he was doing to share a kiss with her or call if they were apart.

Spending time with his children brought him great joy. With Olivia, Jerry would discuss neuroscience and growing gardens from seeds. With Jeremy, he enjoyed discussing computer programming and beating him at golf. With Michael, he discussed mathematics and had witty banter that often involved lovingly criticizing each other's life choices. With Lionel, he had discussions about the importance of education and they cooked crowd favorites, like "poor man's eggs."

Jerry would go for long walks with each of his children, teaching them to identify local plants species. He helped them with cooking, math problems, gardening, and computer programming. Above all, he was their confidant.

Jerry loved his extended family and will be remembered as a friend to many.

Beloved husband of Carol (Walsh) Schanz.
Loving father of Olivia A. Schanz and Jeremy D. Schanz both of Washington, DC, Michael A. Schanz of Montreal, and Lionel M. Schanz of Sharon.
Brother of Leslie Ward of Unionville, CT, Robert Schanz of Scotland, Ellen Hoehne, Thomas Schanz both of Torrington, CT, and Margaret Leveningworth of Paris, IL.
Cherished uncle of many nieces and nephews and devoted friend to his extended family.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Jerry's Life Celebration on Sunday, October 18, 2015 from 2-6PM in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated in Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 59 Cottage Street, Sharon on Monday, October 19, 2015 at 10:00 AM. Interment will be private. We will continue the celebration of his life at the Schanz' home after the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Brigham and Womens Hospital Critical Care Cardiology Fellowship, c/o Development Office, 116 Huntington Ave., 3rd floor, Boston, MA 02116, www.giving.brighamandwomens.org