General Information
Full Name: Dr. Arnold Scham
Date of Death: Tuesday, March 11, 2025
A husband, father, grandfather and physician passed away on March 11, 2025 after a prolonged illness surrounded by his family. He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife, Marlene, of 61 years, (they met at the Bronx HighSchool of Science) his daughter, Stephanie and her husband, Abel, his cherished granddaughters Arielle and Chaya, his older brother Stewart and his ever faithful German Shephard, Ruby. Ruby never left his side and protected him the whole time he was sick.
Arnold went to college at NYU and after 3 years went to medical school at SUNY Downstate. He loved to joke that he was a physician that never actually graduated college. He was a well-respected psychiatrist with sub specialty board certification in Hospice and Palliative Care that he took in his 70’s when the board first came out and he served as Medical Director of Hospice and Palliative Care at Valley for 30 years. He was an amazing teacher and mentor to so many other physicians and staff at Valley Hospital where he worked for over 45 years. The staff enjoyed “Tuesdays with Arnie” where he would lecture to an audience that was standing room only. He served on the ethics committee as well for years, and then even after he retired he stayed on the committee virtually during COVID. In his younger years he served his country as a Major in the US Army and the Public Health Service and often enjoyed telling stories from those times in his life.
He and his wife loved to travel around the world and he enjoyed working hard and playing harder. He loved to relax at their lakehouse in the summer and go fishing while smoking the cigars he wasn’t allowed to smoke in the house. He could often be seen throwing tennis balls into the lake for his dog to go after. He especially enjoyed blueberry picking and fishing especially with Arielle and Chaya. He lived to spoil his granddaughters whenever he could. He enjoyed discussing medicine with his daughter and she often asked him for advice on cases. He will be sorely missed but he left an indelible mark on all the lives he touched.
The funeral service will be held Friday March 14, 2025 at the Louis Suburban Chapel in Fairlawn. The cemetery service immediately following at Cedar Park Cemetery in Paramus.
Shiva will be at the Scham residence immediately following and concluding at 8pm.
Donations can be made to Valley Hospital Hospice:
https://www.valleyhospitalfoundation.org/donate
The foundation can be reached at VHF@ValleyHospitalFoundation.org for more information.
Service Information
Friday, March 14, 2025
11:00 AM
Service At:
Louis Suburban Chapel
13-01 Broadway, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410
Burial To Follow At:
Cedar Park Cemetery
735 Forest Ave, Paramus, NJ 07652
What a lovely, smart, FUNNY man he was! He was our medical director during my first few years as a hospice nurse at Valley. The education he provided to us was first rate, but what I loved most were his stories. My condolences to his family and his loving, faithful companion Ruby.
I met Arnie in 1988 after I got my license. He started me out in learning how to run a practice. I will never forget Wednesday lunches and the astute, kind and meaningful guidance he always provided. He was my mentor and friend and I will never forget him and his dogs. Marlene would tell me about him rolling food to his dog. It is the laughter I will cherish. May his memory be a blessing and may his family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Dr Scham is a légend!! He will be greatly missed. i was a nurse at Valley Hospital and Valley Home Care working alongside Arnie for many wonderful years. Arnie You ran the race and fought with dignity. Rest in Peace!
I worked with Arnie in the beginning years of Valley Hospice. He was a treasure. He will be remembered fondly by everyone he worked with.
Hi Pat, love seeing your name in Arnie’s obituary. My husband (Kendall Smith) would remember you well. Working with Arnie was a great time. We’re now back in NJ at Cedar Crest. Love to you, Linda
Our heartfelt condolences to Marlene, Stephanie, Abel and the girls. Arnie will be sorely missed by those us who had the privilege and the pleasure of knowing him. We will treasure the fond memories we have of him visiting us at the lake with his dogs, picking blueberries, fishing and entertaining us with his wonderful wit. He was truly “larger than life”. May he rest in peace.