Herman is survived by his incredibly patient wife Brenda who was the love of his life, in which everyday of their 42+ year marriage he found some way to raise her blood pressure. He is also survived by his daughter Melissa (Jeff) Nuckoles and step-son Michael (Carrie) Boyd; sister, Peggy (Don) Patterson; brother, Joe Schweers; grand-kids: Joshua Price, Mackenzie Boyd and Jacob Nuckoles.
He is preceded in death by his parents Herman Sr. and Margaret Schweers; sister, Mary Rose; brother, Bill Schweers; his 1972 Dodge Challenger and his left leg.
Born in Camden, NJ his family moved to Orlando in 1958 where he would attend St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School, become a BSA Eagle Scout, and eventually graduate from Maynard Evans High School in 1967. Herman grew up loving and working on cars at his fathers Gulf (he pronounced “golf”) station on Corrine Drive in Orlando. Taught to use his hands and work hard he made his way to Albany, GA where he would meet his true love, Brenda (not cars) working at Billy Gray’s Service Station. However, she wasn’t digging the long-haired hippie vibe at the time. Fast forward, he shaves and gets a haircut and moves back home to Orlando where one night out at a night club he runs into that gorgeous blonde that has stolen his heart. She took one look at those pretty, blue eyes, and it was on!
Grease was in this man’s veins, working on, building, driving and racing fast cars all with his daughter Melissa (the tomboy ballerina) in tow, thick as thieves and covered in grease. You could find him most days at the race car shop, track, or working backstage at one of the many ballet performances.
Herman was also a beloved mentor to many of the neighborhood kids. He loved to teach them how to work on their cars instilling a hard work ethic in all of them. Whether is was the Saturday nights at Old Town with our car club, Sundays working on our cars, or just sitting around having a meal, our home and refrigerator were always open.
Above all else he loved his grandkids. He loved watching his granddaughter Mackenzie dance and perform with her band in school. He loved going to his grandson Josh’s baseball games, mentoring him and the other boys in scouts, and watching him perform with his Ocoee Knights Marching Band. And he loved seeing his grandson Jacob compete in Jiu Jitsu. They were his pride and joy.
He lived his life fast and loud and never missed a NASCAR race. He watched every car show (much to Brenda’s dismay) that was on TV. He could rebuild an engine in his sleep or spend 4 straight hours watching Disney movies and reading I-Spy books with his grandkids. He loved chocolate, well everything, NASCAR and family (blood or otherwise). He despised laziness and was always there to lend a helping hand. He never met a stranger and was always a friend.
Herman left us knowing that Richard Petty will always be The King, hard work is what gets you through this life and that family is all that you needed. His legacy is rich with life lessons, honesty and love.
Tremendous and heartfelt thanks to his nurses at Health Central Hospital CCU who provided much more than exceptional care but also provided a peaceful and compassionate environment during his transition from this life to the next.
Memorial donations in Herman’s name can be made to Muscular Dystrophy Association at www.mda.org with recipient address of 1703 Mona Ave Ocoee, FL 34761.
A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church located 4001 Edgewater Drive, Orlando, Florida 32804 on Thursday, Oct. 18th at 11:00 am.
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