Orignially posted on TCPalm.com
November 15,2001
By Tony Judnich
News staff writer
The death of a well-respected diving expert who lost his life while on
the job Tuesday has struck the local diving community hard, family and
friends say.
Ron Scherrer, co-owner of Dive Center of Sebastian, was killed Tuesday
at his store when an air tank he had been filling for a customer
exploded. Scherrer, 72, died from massive chest and head trauma,
Sebastian Police Detective Joe Dillon said.
Scherrer's wife and the store's co-owner, Virgene, and a customer were
in the shop at 1716 U.S. 1 when the explosion occurred, but they were
not injured, Dillon said.
Chris Hammett, co-owner of Deep Six Dive and Watersports in Vero
Beach, said Scherrer was "a great competitor, a fantastic technician.
He knew a lot of about diving.
Scherrer's death "is definitely a dreadful shame to the industry,
that's for sure," he said.
Dillon said the tank that had exploded had been weakened by rust and
the tank's inspections were not up to date.
Condensation had caused the tank to rust inside from "top to bottom,"
he said. Air tanks are supposed to be visually inspected annually and
undergo hydrostatic pressure tests every five years, Dillon said.
Dillon said the tank that exploded was made in 1988 and received its
last visual inspection in October 1999. It received its last
hydrostatic test in 1991, he said.
Mrs. Scherrer said her husband was "a very gentlemanly person, very
friendly and always a very happy person. He loved being in the scuba
business. All of the people in the industry really respected him.
In addition to his wife, Ron Scherrer is survived by his four
children: Susan of Minneapolis, Minn.; Connie and Mike, both of
Indianapolis; and Steve, of Grant.
Mrs. Scherrer said she doesn't know if she'll continue to operate Dive
Center.
"We have a lot of things to think about," she said.
Hope this helps,
Chris
COVCI
November 15,2001
By Tony Judnich
News staff writer
The death of a well-respected diving expert who lost his life while on
the job Tuesday has struck the local diving community hard, family and
friends say.
Ron Scherrer, co-owner of Dive Center of Sebastian, was killed Tuesday
at his store when an air tank he had been filling for a customer
exploded. Scherrer, 72, died from massive chest and head trauma,
Sebastian Police Detective Joe Dillon said.
Scherrer's wife and the store's co-owner, Virgene, and a customer were
in the shop at 1716 U.S. 1 when the explosion occurred, but they were
not injured, Dillon said.
Chris Hammett, co-owner of Deep Six Dive and Watersports in Vero
Beach, said Scherrer was "a great competitor, a fantastic technician.
He knew a lot of about diving.
Scherrer's death "is definitely a dreadful shame to the industry,
that's for sure," he said.
Dillon said the tank that had exploded had been weakened by rust and
the tank's inspections were not up to date.
Condensation had caused the tank to rust inside from "top to bottom,"
he said. Air tanks are supposed to be visually inspected annually and
undergo hydrostatic pressure tests every five years, Dillon said.
Dillon said the tank that exploded was made in 1988 and received its
last visual inspection in October 1999. It received its last
hydrostatic test in 1991, he said.
Mrs. Scherrer said her husband was "a very gentlemanly person, very
friendly and always a very happy person. He loved being in the scuba
business. All of the people in the industry really respected him.
In addition to his wife, Ron Scherrer is survived by his four
children: Susan of Minneapolis, Minn.; Connie and Mike, both of
Indianapolis; and Steve, of Grant.
Mrs. Scherrer said she doesn't know if she'll continue to operate Dive
Center.
"We have a lot of things to think about," she said.
Hope this helps,
Chris
COVCI
