Obituary of William Granville Scharffe, Ph.D.

William G. Scharffe, Ph.D. William Granville (Bill) Scharffe, the only child of William E. and Marion Granville (Boots) Scharffe, was born March 12, 1942 in Saginaw, Michigan. Bill departed this earth, his island home, on July 28, 2021, at Covenant Hospital unexpectedly with his family by his side. His Father, William E. and Grandfather, Alex W. Scharffe, founded A.W. Scharffe and Son, Inc., General Contractors in 1937. The business served Saginaw for over 44 years. His Mother’s family owned and operated Granville’s Shoes in Saginaw for over 100 years. He leaves behind his beloved wife, best friend, and bridge partner of 56 years, Mary Jo Whitfield Scharffe formerly of the City of Sylvan Lake, Michigan, his daughter, Sue L. Lasky (Scott) and grandsons Ernest F. Balcueva, II and Evan Randall (Randy) Balcueva of Troy, Michigan, and son William W. Scharffe (Amy) and grandsons Joshua Dale Scharffe and Joel Thomas Scharffe of Cincinnati, OH. Bill was a life-long resident of Saginaw and was very active in a number of community and professional organizations including 42 months of service on the Saginaw City Council from 2008 – 2011, three terms on the Vestry of St. John’s Episcopal Church and long-time service as a Lay Reader, boards of the Historical Society of Saginaw County, Michigan State University Alumni Club of Saginaw County (past-President), Saginaw Economic Development Corporation, the Saginaw Club (past-President), the Japanese Cultural Center and Tea House (past-Chairman), the Saginaw Exchange Club (past-President), Friends of the Hill House, Adams Boulevard Area Neighborhood Association (past-President), Michigan Association of School Personnel Administrators (past-President), and the American Association of State Policy Services of the National School Boards Association (past-President). Bill was also a member of the Saginaw Country Club, a LTM of Saginaw Lodge 77, F. & A.M. and was past-Master Counselor of George Washington Chapter, Order of DeMolay and a DeMolay Chevalier. He was a career educator having served in the Saginaw Public Schools for 34.9 years with 22 ½ of those as Director of Personnel and Labor Relations with service, also, as a teacher at Webber Junior High and Arthur Hill High School, Principal of Zilwaukee School, Assistant Principal at North Intermediate and Arthur Hill High Schools, and as Director of Employee Development and Media Operations. He retired from the Saginaw Schools in February 1999 and embarked on a “second” career as Associate Executive Director for Bylaw and Policy Services at the Michigan Association of School Boards in Lansing, MI. Bill retired from MASB in July 2008 after 9 ½ years of service to school districts across the state of Michigan. An avid (but admittedly not very good) golfer, Bill also enjoyed, in his younger years, fly fishing on the North Branch of the AuSable River where his family had a summer home. He enjoyed the game of bridge, played a decent game of poker, told a good joke, and enjoyed target shooting, photography, and public speaking. Bill was a proud graduate of the Arthur Hill High School class of 1960 and served as program chairman for all class reunions for over 50 years. He earned his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in speech communications, education, and labor and industrial relations from that grand institution on the banks of the Red Cedar, Michigan State University. He and Mary Jo held season tickets for MSU football for over 25 years and enjoyed tailgating with friends and family on the beautiful campus in East Lansing where he and Mary Jo met and fell in love. Go Green, Go White, Go State! He had a special love for his dog, and walking buddy “Duffy” named for the famous MSU Football Coach, Hugh “Duffy” Dougherty. Bill was preceded in death by his grandparents, William C. and Kittie L. Deuel Granville, Alex W. and Louise Frantom Scharffe, his parents William Edward and Marion Kittie Granville Scharffe, and numerous uncles and aunts. Cremation has taken place. A memorial Eucharist will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 123 N. Michigan Ave. on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at 1:00 pm, with the Rev. Fr. Curt Norman officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to St. John’s Episcopal Church, the Japanese Cultural Center and Tea House, or the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History. To sign online guestbook, visit www.cremationsocietymidmi.com Arrangements made with the Cremation Society of Mid-Michigan.