T. Richard Shoaff, Jr., 78, passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2026 in Fort Wayne. He had lived his entire adult life struggling with the debilitating effects of schizophrenia. He had an exceptional brain, which he exhibited at Mercersberg Academy in Pennsylvania. This is where he went to high school and graduated with the prize in mathematics. He went on to Williams College in Massachusetts, where the schizophrenia took over and prevented him from reaching his full potential and living a normal life, but to the end, his mind remained sharp.
Richard spent his final years at Coventry Commons in Fort Wayne, a retirement facility near family, where he was compassionately and with great skill cared for by his private caretaker, Karen Moyer, to whom his family is greatly indebted. His remaining family is Judy (Ed) Reading, Susan (Randy) Long, Clare Shoaff, Wally (Vicky) Shoaff, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Memorial contributions may be made to the T. Richard Shoaff, Jr., Symposium on Mental Health to help others like Richard hopefully live a better life. Please mail to I.U. School of Medicine - Fort Wayne T. Richard Shoaff, Jr., Fund c/o I.U. Foundation, P.O. Box 7072 Indianapolis, Indiana 46207-7072
