John Charles Scharfenberg

John Charles Scharfenberg, 84, passed away peacefully on March 10, 2022, with his wife and a son at his bedside, from complications of Parkinson’s disease. John is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Ann Laville Scharfenberg, a daughter, Mary Connelly Scharfenberg George (Kevin), sons John Charles, Jr. and Edward Parkerson (Katherine), granddaughters Charlotte Love Scharfenberg and Virginia Laville Scharfenberg, a brother, Stephen Andrew Scharfenberg (Suzanne), and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his mother and father, Ethel Connelly and Charles Henry Scharfenberg.

John was born on April 14, 1937 in Orange, New Jersey. His family moved to Atlanta, then Columbus, Georgia, when he was a boy. He graduated from St. Bernard’s Academy in Cullman, Alabama and Spring Hill College before attending Tulane Medical School, where he was a member of Phi Chi medical fraternity and from which he graduated in 1963. Days after his graduation, he married Ann Laville in Plaquemine, Louisiana. John completed a rotating internship at Charity Hospital on the Tulane Service from 1963-1964. From 1964-1966, John served in the U.S. Army, posted initially to Vint Hill Farms Station, Virginia. He shipped out to the central highlands of Viet Nam in 1965, where he served with the 299th Combat Engineering Battalion (“Proven Pioneers”). He was honorably discharged in 1966, having obtained the rank of Captain, and received the Bronze Star for his service.

John and Ann returned to New Orleans in 1966 and, for the most part, remained. After beginning a surgery residency at Charity, John switched specialties, and completed a pathology residency in 1971 (Tulane Service). Except for brief stints in Hendersonville, North Carolina (1976) and Touro Infirmary (1976-1981), John spent his career as a staff pathologist at Ochsner Clinic until he retired in 2002. He was board certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomical Pathology, Dermatopathology and Ophthalmic Pathology, and was a member of the American Medical Association, the Louisiana State and Orleans Parish Medical Societies, the U.S. and Canadian Academy of Pathology, the College of American Pathologists, the Louisiana Pathology Society and the Greater New Orleans Pathology Society. For many years, John was Clinical Professor of Pathology at Tulane. Gladly would he learn, and gladly teach.

John was a parishioner of Holy Name of Jesus Church. He enjoyed music of many genres, travel with Ann, sailing out of the Southern Yacht Club, running (later walking) in Audubon Park, singing with the piano accompaniment of his daughter and mother-in-law, and the company of his friends and extended family. He dutifully served as team physician for his sons’ soccer teams. So long as he was able, he was a volunteer at the Adoration Chapel at Holy Name, and, until quite recently, had never missed a season of Friends of Music, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra or the New Orleans Opera.

John’s family is grateful to his many devoted caregivers, the staffs of the Carol Condominium and St. Anna’s at Lambeth House, and doctors and nurses who cared for him at Ochsner. In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to the charity of your choice or to Holy Name of Jesus Parish, 6220 LaSalle Place, New Orleans, LA 70118-6236. A Funeral Mass will be said at Holy Name of Jesus Church, 6367 St. Charles Avenue, 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 17, with Visitation at the church from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.