Obituary of Dr. Gerald Anthony Schroeter

Dr. Gerald Anthony Schroeter

1935-2024

After a full and rich life of dedication to family and medical care for others, Gerald “Gerry” Schroeter passed on to his next horizon on February 23, 2024, at home with family beside him. Gerry was just shy of 89 years of age, born July 2, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Dr. George A. Schroeter and Florence Belden Capps.

Gerry was raised in Westchester County, New York. He was a member of the US Junior Davis Cup Tennis team, and graduated from St. John’s University for his undergraduate. Gerry would go on to become a high-level tennis player for years, winning numerous club championships in doubles and singles. 

While tennis was an area of great talent for Gerry, his focus was always on family. The son of a doctor father and concert pianist mother, Gerry began his branch of the family tree in 1956 when he met the love of his life - Elizabeth (Betsy) Hanley Schroeter of Scarsdale, in Lake George, New York. They married the following year in White Plains, New York, and began their lives together in Ottawa, Canada. 

Gerry completed his medical degree at the University of Ottawa. After a 3-year neurology residency in Manhattan, he and Betsy started their family on the north shore of Long Island, NY. Living mostly in Lloyd Harbor, Betsy and Gerry raised three children (Maureen, Thomas, and Robert) together there. Gerry had offices and hospital privileges in Glen Cove and Huntington, NY, serving as the neurology section chief, and chaired the Epilepsy and Neurology Clinic at St. Charles Hospital. Gerry also founded the Long Island Neuroscience Academy and was a highly esteemed neurologist throughout the region.

In 1997, after almost two decades as owners on Hilton Head Island, SC, Gerry “retired” and he and Betsy moved full time to HHI (Sea Pines). Gerry’s “retirement” included serving as Chair of Neurology at HHI Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, as well as a board member and/or chair of Memory Matters, Hilton Head Ethics Society, and South Beach Lane POA. Gerry also volunteered with Second Helpings, World Affairs Council of Hilton Head, and many other worthy causes locally.

To know Gerry Schroeter was to love him. He brought a sincere caring and warmth to medical practice, just as he brought them to everything and everyone he touched. So many family, friends, and even acquaintances, can relate a time or feeling when he counseled them well or just made them the complete focus of his attention. 

Gerry is survived by his forever love and bride, Betsy, with whom he shared 66 years as husband and wife. Gerry is also survived by two children, Maureen & Bob (wife Vicky) (Tom passing in 2020), and sisters Claire Dame and Barbara Schroeter. In addition, Gerry is survived by six grandchildren: Brian Kapatkin (Jen), Jennifer Ziegler (Mike), Matthew Schroeter (Daniela), Lauren Schroeter, Katherine Dunne (Paul), and Rebekah Schroeter (Brenden), as well as five great-grandchildren, in a family now spanning four countries.

A celebration of Gerry’s life is in the planning stages and details will be shared at a future date with friends and family members. In lieu of flowers or other remembrances, contributions may be made in Gerry’s name to any of the following organizations: HHI Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, Memory Matters, Hospice Care of the Low Country, or Deep Well (HHI).