Connie Scharf

With tender hearts and joyful memories, we mourn the passing of our dear mother, sister, aunt, grandmother “Nana”, and friend - Maria “Connie” Scharf.

She passed away on June 21, 2022, at home surrounded by her children after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She leaves behind her broken-hearted children: Theodore (Ted) Scharf, Cynthia (Cinde) Scharf and Geraldine (Michael) Castellani; two grandchildren:  Dominick and David Castellani, her sister Sylvia (Ted) Corcoran, numerous nieces, nephews and cherished friends.

Connie was born on April 26, 1933, in Brownsville, Texas to parents Jose and Juanita Brito. She was the great-granddaughter of Santiago M. Brito, owner of El Democrata newspaper and elected Cameron County Sheriff in Brownsville, Texas. Santiago was a specially appointed Texas Ranger who went on to solve the Great Rio Grande Railroad Robbery of January 1891.

She lived the early years of her life in a large family along with her siblings: Carlos, Jose, Antonio, Ana (Julian) Tamez, Lupe (Eugenio) Zuniga, Lordes Brito and Sylvia(Ted) Corcoran. Her family was extremely important to her, and she was a devoted sister to all her siblings.

After graduating High School, she moved to Galveston, Texas and received her degree in nursing at the St. Mary’s School of Nursing. She moved to San Antonio to work as a surgical nurse at Nix Hospital. She often said she liked the diversity of surgical nursing because they often used hammers, drill, pins and screws to save the lives and limbs of those in her charge. She was always a nurturing and caring person even to strangers.

After being invited to a social mixer at Randolph AFB, she met her future husband Thomas “Tom” Scharf. She married Tom in Brownsville on December 24, 1957, and began living the military family lifestyle which shaped her life.

Connie sacrificed her nursing career to become a devoted wife and business partner, mother, and head of household for many years during Tom’s developing career as a private and professional helicopter/cargo pilot with the US Air Force. She endured his many deployments away from family in foreign towns and country.

Connie grew from a protected strong faith family foundation and went on to be a well-rounded, gifted, and spirited woman supporting her husband’s many hobbies and adventurous lifestyle. She was gifted with a spirit of hospitality to all those who knew her and created a festive atmosphere everywhere she went.

She was an exceptional cook and hostess. Her willingness to be adventurous with Tom included many activities such as: learning to snow ski at age 34, riding horseback down the Grand Canyon, white water rafting (even though she couldn’t swim), camping on rocks and canoeing with the Boy Scouts, playing tennis and golf. Connie loved participating in a community theater group in Portugal. She really shined as a thespian and gifted dancer. All the while being a devoted servant of God and blessing her children in the Catholic faith. Her faith and prayerful commitment to her family influenced her children and they are blessed to be in close contact with their Aunt Sylvia and many cousins.

Connie was known as the life of the party and people often commented on her cute appearance which she used to her advantage in her volunteer, fundraising and civic duties in Portugal, Texas and San Bernardino, California where she and Tom eventually retired.

After retirement from the Air Force, Tom and Connie began experiencing entrepreneurship as they developed the National Orange Show Swap Meet along with other business adventures in solar and wind energy. They owned a wood shavings business serving the thoroughbred horse industry in Southern California. Many of Connie’s children’s high school classmates found themselves working for them and she loved every one of them like her own.

Connie and Tom were known in the community in which they retired. They were active participants in the San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce. Connie was awarded Volunteer of the Year and Ambassador of the Year multiple times. She was involved in many Chamber committees and participated in Sister City committee trips to Mexicali. She especially loved her work supporting the Western Regional Little League tournaments, Citizen Peer Review for California Highway Patrol Academy candidates and volunteering as an advocate for children like C.A.S.A.

In a few words, Connie was a courageous and passionate woman who shared her life with her family which she greatly influenced by being an honorable example of the best kind of mother, and an inspiration to her kids and community.

Her children would like to thank Valeo Hospice for their thoughtful and compassionate care of Connie. They would also want to share their heartfelt gratitude to her sister Sylvia for being a devoted sister and confidant through the end of her days. The family would especially like to thank Nita & Eddie Errizuriz, Stella & Gus Solis for their assistance in planning her Rosary and Mass.

The Mass is being held on Saturday, July 16, 2022, at St. Eugene de Mazenod Catholic Church. The Rosary will commence at 9:30 AM and the Mass will be held at 10:00 AM. The church is located at 5409 Austin Rd., Brownsville, Texas 78521.

Connie will continue on to her internment with her beloved husband, Maj. Thomas R Scharf at the columbarium in Riverside National Cemetery located at 22495 Van Buren Blvd, Riverside, California 92518 on Friday, July 22, 2022 at 10:00 AM. Those who would like to celebrate her life can meet the family at the cemetery 20-30 minutes prior to the internment. The family and friends will be escorted to the Columbarium at the cemetery from the staging area.