Obituary for Shirley Hesche
Obituary for Shirley Hesche
Shirley Jean Hesche passed away on Friday, February 26, 2021, of respiratory issues. She is survived by her husband, Tom Scheer; their son, Alan Scheer; his wife, Samantha; their daughter, Charley (the joy of Shirley’s last 4 years); and Shirley’s sister, Marilyn Hesche.
Shirley was born in Los Angeles, CA on May 31, 1951, the first of two daughters to Howard and Marjorie Hesche. The family relocated to San Diego in 1957, where Shirley lived the remainder of her life. After graduating from Monte Vista High School in 1969, Shirley went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts from UCSD, and a Master’s degree in Special Education from SDSU. Shirley and her husband Tom met in 1975, while working at ARC, a day program providing support services for adults with Developmental Disabilities.They were married on June 25, 1978, and have resided in Spring Valley, CA since.
Shirley taught Special Education for young adults in the Sweetwater School District from 1975-1991, and for the San Diego Unified School District from 1991-2011, when she retired. During her teaching career, Shirley won two Teacher of the Year awards, and was instrumental in helping develop the TRACE program for S.D. City schools, a program that assists young adult students with disabilities as they transition from high school to adult life. She was the first teacher in TRACE to form a Student Governance to help provide leadership skills and advocacy for people with disabilities. Shirley was always a strong advocate for the rights of Developmentally Disabled adults, and helped organize People First, an organization which provides support for disabled adults to teach them to be self-reliant through education, to access resources, to develop leadership skills, and to participate in an annual People First weekend conference.
Shirley was a person of many interests and talents. Her love of color was displayed in her paintings of landscapes, flowers, people, and abstracts, using mediums of acrylics, water colors, and pastels. She was a skilled seamstress, making quilts, wall hangings, blankets, and clothing. She made her own wedding dress, and baked her wedding cake. Cook books abounded in her kitchen, and much of her enjoyment was in trying new recipes for family and friends. Her other hobbies included gardening, woodworking, stained glass, and photography. She was known for her love of animals, and her family has always included 2 dogs. Shirley and Tom loved to travel, making frequent trips around the country to visit National Parks, and to visit family and friends. They enjoyed 4 trips to Europe, including 3 cruises.
Shirley’s family and friends were most important to her. When help was needed by organizations, friends, or family, she was always willing to volunteer her time and efforts. Her wonderful smile and sense of humor brought love and laughter to all. She will be deeply missed by those who knew her. A “Shirley Hesche Foundation” for the People First organization is being established. Please consider a donation. For information, contact Debbie Marshall at San Diego People First: 619-913-8232. Additional information can be found on their Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/San-Diego-People-First-Self-Advocacy-Conference-107797943899272
Shirley Jean Hesche passed away on Friday, February 26, 2021, of respiratory issues. She is survived by her husband, Tom Scheer; their son, Alan Scheer; his wife, Samantha; their daughter, Charley (the joy of Shirley’s last 4 years); and Shirley’s sister, Marilyn Hesche.
Shirley was born in Los Angeles, CA on May 31, 1951, the first of two daughters to Howard and Marjorie Hesche. The family relocated to San Diego in 1957, where Shirley lived the remainder of her life. After graduating from Monte Vista High School in 1969, Shirley went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts from UCSD, and a Master’s degree in Special Education from SDSU. Shirley and her husband Tom met in 1975, while working at ARC, a day program providing support services for adults with Developmental Disabilities.They were married on June 25, 1978, and have resided in Spring Valley, CA since.
Shirley taught Special Education for young adults in the Sweetwater School District from 1975-1991, and for the San Diego Unified School District from 1991-2011, when she retired. During her teaching career, Shirley won two Teacher of the Year awards, and was instrumental in helping develop the TRACE program for S.D. City schools, a program that assists young adult students with disabilities as they transition from high school to adult life. She was the first teacher in TRACE to form a Student Governance to help provide leadership skills and advocacy for people with disabilities. Shirley was always a strong advocate for the rights of Developmentally Disabled adults, and helped organize People First, an organization which provides support for disabled adults to teach them to be self-reliant through education, to access resources, to develop leadership skills, and to participate in an annual People First weekend conference.
Shirley was a person of many interests and talents. Her love of color was displayed in her paintings of landscapes, flowers, people, and abstracts, using mediums of acrylics, water colors, and pastels. She was a skilled seamstress, making quilts, wall hangings, blankets, and clothing. She made her own wedding dress, and baked her wedding cake. Cook books abounded in her kitchen, and much of her enjoyment was in trying new recipes for family and friends. Her other hobbies included gardening, woodworking, stained glass, and photography. She was known for her love of animals, and her family has always included 2 dogs. Shirley and Tom loved to travel, making frequent trips around the country to visit National Parks, and to visit family and friends. They enjoyed 4 trips to Europe, including 3 cruises.
Shirley’s family and friends were most important to her. When help was needed by organizations, friends, or family, she was always willing to volunteer her time and efforts. Her wonderful smile and sense of humor brought love and laughter to all. She will be deeply missed by those who knew her. A “Shirley Hesche Foundation” for the People First organization is being established. Please consider a donation. For information, contact Debbie Marshall at San Diego People First: 619-913-8232. Additional information can be found on their Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/San-Diego-People-First-Self-Advocacy-Conference-107797943899272