Lawrence J. Scheff D.D.S., 89, beloved husband and friend of Dorothy A. Scheff for over 59 years, passed away in his sleep on Sunday morning, May 20, 2007. Larry was the devoted father of Bruce Scheff (Bridget Arimond), Henry Scheff (Bobbie), Peter Scheff (Deborah Rosenberg) and Steven Scheff (Leanne); and loving grandfather to Laura, Brian, Julie, Jack, Andy, Nora, Celia, Leighann and Jeremy Scheff. Larry began practicing dentistry at age 21 after graduating from Loyola Dental School in Chicago, and served as a dentist in a railroad battalion in the U.S. Army during World War II in North Africa and Italy. He opened a dental office on the south side of Chicago after the war, married Dorothy in 1948, and built a very successful practice in downtown Chicago until he retired in 1982. Outside of dentistry, he loved music, the theater, books, politics, and his family. He was a lifelong activist, working for and supporting numerous progressive causes, including civil rights, nuclear disarmament, and the environment. In retirement, one of his primary passions was archeology. He volunteered for over twenty years as a docent at both the Oriental Institute and the Field Museum of Natural History, where his tours were very popular. A memorial will be held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29 in Breasted Hall at the Oriental Institute, 1155 East 58th Street. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that donations be made to the Oriental Institute, 1155 East 58th St., Chicago, IL 60637, (https://oi.uchicago.edu/getinvolved/donate/) or the Horizon Hospice and Palliative Care, 833 W Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60622, (http://www.horizonhospice.org/horizonhospice/donations.htm).
