Barry Scherman Obituary

Barry Scherman
10/02/1936 - 12/17/2023
Barry Scherman, the son of Nettie and Sol Scherman, suddenly passed away after working at his computer in full steam the night before. Born in San Francisco, Barry grew up in Piedmont, California, and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley.
Barry was a kind, considerate, thoughtful man with a strong character and a passion for real estate. From his first job with his father, picking up nails on a construction site, he learned about the importance of work ethic, integrity, fairness and philanthropy. He lived his life with the scales of justice paramount in his thought process and evaluated each situation from a perspective of positivity and resolution. He was known to be tough in business, but whether business or personal, those closest to him understood that his principles ran deep.
Always understated, Barry rarely spoke about his successes. He privately appreciated the invitation and enjoyed his work as a City of San Francisco Real Estate Consultant. Occasionally, he reminisced about his past as the youngest president of the National Home Builders Association and the challenges he encountered in developing Discovery Bay, California, an innovative development.
Significant contributions to the real estate environment marked Barry's professional career. His mastery of renovation, construction, and development led to the creation of numerous multifamily neighborhoods, condominiums, apartments, and commercial properties. These structures, standing as a testament to his vision and skill, continue to shape the communities they are a part of today.
During Thanksgiving dinner, just weeks before his passing, Barry shared his profound thoughts on the power of gratitude. He drew inspiration from Elie Wiesel, reminding us that without gratitude, love remains unknown. Barry was deeply grateful for the blessings of health, family, friends and travel. His gratitude was not just a feeling but a call to action, as he was driven to give back to the community that had given him so much.
Barry focused his time and energy on places where he thought he could make a difference. He regularly hosted political, cultural, and healthcare events in his home, sat on multiple boards, including but not limited to the California Community Colleges Board, helping to increase the availability of educational opportunities, worked tirelessly to develop Camp Newman so that kids could have wonderful, nurturing, summer experiences, supported CPMC Hospital and CPMC Foundation, Make A Wish Foundation, Jewish Federation, Anti-Defamation League, AIPAC, Gun Violence Prevention, Glide Church, St. Anthony's Kitchen, and generously contributed to various charities.
Upon learning that an employee's father, a Portuguese diplomat, had been persecuted, disgraced, and died in poverty and shame for saving the lives of Jews by signing their exit papers, Barry immediately enlisted an entourage of people to work together toward repairing the injustice. Ultimately, the employee's father was posthumously reinstated in his country. Today, the man who followed his conscience and risked everything is named Righteous Among the Nations at Yad Vashem.
Barry was appreciated, loved, and adored by many: Dad to Aviva (David), Papa to Lexi, Madelyn, and Zachary, Brother Barr to Michael, Important to Abram (Fiana), Pops to Robert and Shoshana, Grandpa to Preston and Jayden, Papa Bear to Brenley, Uncle Barry to Ashley and Joshua, Uncle Barr to Judith, mentor to Zack, and "Chef Barri" to his men friends.
He often affectionately described their annual trips, first skiing, later golfing, and finally relaxing on a boat where they all hilariously laughed at exactly the same stories they shared the year before.
Friendships mattered to Barry, and they enriched his life.
He was deeply cherished and loved by his wife, Susan, and will be forever missed.
A private memorial was held.