Paul F. Sherer

Paul Frederick Sherer, 83, of Powell, Ohio, passed away on January 31, 2026, surrounded by his family at Riverside Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Born on March 10, 1942 in Bucyrus, Ohio, he was a devoted husband of nearly 60 years to Victoria (Gasuras) Sherer, loving father to Cristina, Constance, and Stacie Sherer, and grandfather to Kevin (Raquel) Coghlan, Sara Coghlan, and Nathan Argie. He is survived by brothers Larry (Mary Lou) and Allen (Jean) Sherer. Paul was preceded in death by his brother, Harry, and his parents, Frederick and Orpha.

Paul spent his career as a teacher, retiring from the Columbus City Schools in 1994 after teaching high school chemistry and physics for 30 years. Five of those were with Dublin High School and 25 years with Columbus City Schools, during which he was very active with the Education Association. He was known for bringing science to life for his students through hands-on demonstrations and experiences, and for his daughters by showing the application of science in our daily lives. He supervised the Northland High School Ski Club, getting kids out of the city and onto the slopes, as well as taking students on annual trips to Washington, D.C. to learn about our nation’s history and government. He loved spicy food and enthusiastically participated in an annual cooking competition among the teachers to see who could bring the spiciest dish to the table. He also taught math at Franklin University for 10 years.

Paul’s support for public education also came to life through service as a member of the Board of Education for Olentangy Local School District from 1984 to 1992, including his tenure as President of the Board. As a passionate advocate for public education and a thoughtful leader, the work of the board during his tenure paved the way for the district’s exponential growth. He graduated from The Ohio State University in 1964 with a degree in Education followed by a master's degree from Ohio Wesleyan University. He graduated from North Robinson High School in 1960.

Endlessly curious about the world around him, in his retirement, Paul and his wife traveled the world together, across the U.S. and Europe as well as to China, Thailand, and South Africa. He was always initiating a conversation with a tour guide or a local, asking about local infrastructure, geology, and farming, as well as daily life. He enjoyed playing golf with a group of retired teachers, as well as socializing with the Home Plate Club and the ROMEO group at Liberty Barn Church. He was a tireless supporter of his wife’s work to help refugees settle and build new lives for their families in the U.S., accompanying her to collect and distribute donations to them.

Paul loved sports as a fan for The Ohio State University, Cleveland Browns, and Cleveland Guardians. He shared his love of sports with his daughters, teaching them to play softball and golf and how to ski. Although throughout his life he played many sports, he enjoyed golf the most and had close friendships with the group of men he played with. He also loved animals, beginning with life on his family’s dairy farm and continuing in his encouragement of his daughters and grandchildren to love and care for animals.

He was the consummate fixer and problem-solver, showing his daughters how to make, build, and repair, whether it was building rabbit hutches or a treehouse. Paul always had time for his daughters and grandchildren, whether he was helping with homework, teaching them a new life skill, or helping them think through a decision. He was encouraging and provided gentle, unwavering support in achieving their goals.

Paul was the ultimate family man, neighbor, and community leader, sharing his time, talent, and care for neighbors and their children. His impact will endure and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 7 at 1:00 p.m. at Liberty Barn Church, 7080 Olentangy River Road, Delaware, Ohio with a reception following. The family will be available to receive visitors at Liberty Barn Church for one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, Paul's family is establishing a scholarship in his name for girls in the Olentangy Local School District who are pursuing degrees in STEM fields. Tax-deductible donations can be made via the Delaware County Foundation at https://delawarecf.org/donations/paul-sherer/.

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