Norman J. Scheer

Norman Scheer was born on June 14, 1932 in Brooklyn and grew up in Hillside, where he became an accomplished golfer and won several junior titles around the state. A 1954 graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, he starred on the Penn golf team and then for the United States Army team while stationed in Germany, including an appearance in the British Amateur Championship. Over the course of his life he made five holes-in-one and shot his age twice.

After his military service Norman joined the William N. Scheer Advertising Agency, founded by his father and then based in Newark. He later established his own business, the Norman J. Stevens Advertising Agency in South Orange. Meticulous, ethical, hard-working, and always focused on his clients and employees, Norman guided his firm to considerable success; one longstanding relationship with Burlington Coat Factory and its founder, Monroe Milstein, saw that company grow from a handful of stores into a national powerhouse.

For all his accomplishments, nothing was more important to Norman than his family, starting with the love of his life, Janice Capaccio Scheer, to whom he was married for 66 years. They raised three children and later welcomed seven grandchildren. Norman and Janice traveled, golfed, and enjoyed their homes in Vermont and Florida, often in the company of their kids and grandkids.

Norman served for more than 20 years as Greens Chairman at the Preakness Hills Country Club and was Golf Digest’s longest-tenured course rater. He was a supporter of the Livingston Adult School and Hospice of Essex and Morris County.

Norman Scheer was pre-deceased by his parents, William N. Scheer and Etta Shapiro Scheer. Survivors include his wife, Janice; children Mark Scheer and his wife, Kathy; Lisa and her husband, Edward Cone; and Suzanne Scheer; grandchildren Lee, Annie, and Lauren Scheer; Elijah and Sydney Cone; and Logan and Will Brown; and brother, Steven Scheer and his wife, Natalie.

Norman was kind, thoughtful, generous, quick to laugh and effortlessly elegant. He lived a good life and will be missed by many.