Alexander Lermer

Dr Alexander Sascha Lermer ascended peacefully into heaven on Sunday, May 17, 2015 at age 95.
He was born on January 3, 1920 in the Kingdom of Werschetz, Yugoslavia. His parents, Julius Lermer and Tereza Maria Lermer (Kren) were of German descent. He was an accomplished student, attending the Second Boys Gymnasium in Belgrade graduating in 1939. He then started Medical school, completing four semesters by 1941 when WW II interrupted his schooling until 1944. He resumed Medical School at the Ludwig Maximillian, University of Munich Germany from 1945 to 1949, graduating March 1949. He received his Doctor of Medicine - Magna Cum Laude in 1951.
While in Germany, he met the love of his life, Anna Marie, in Herbstadt, Germany (Bavaria), where he offered to fix her bicycle seat. They were married on December 20, 1946 and celebrated 68 years of devotion to one another. Their daughter, Sylvia Lermer McCauley was born in 1949 coinciding with the completion of his medical studies.
The decision to immigrate to the United States in 1951 was influenced by his search of personal freedom, economic opportunity and a future of hope for his family. The journey began in December 1951, leaving Germany with his wife and young daughter on the ship, the USS General R.M. Blatchford. After 11 days of stormy seas and uncertainty of the ships condition to complete the journey, they arrived in New York with few possessions, but with his prized accordion. The first year was filled with the challenges of learning English and acclimating to a new a new culture. From 1952 to 1957, he worked at Buffalo Deaconess Hospital, Buffalo, NY as a Pathologist with special interests in Anatomic, Clinical, Forensic Pathology and Cytology. In 1953, his son Peter Lermer was born, making him the first generation American in the family. In 1957, Dr Lermer became a citizen of the United States and relocated to Akron, Ohio. Akron General Medical Center was his place of employment for the next 35 years in the Department of Pathology, Anatomic Pathologist and Director of the School of Cytotechnology. In addition, he was an Associate Professor of Pathology at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (12 years); University of Akron, Adjunct Professor Cytotechnology (25 years); and Forensic Pathologist at the Summit County Coroner's Office (12 years).
His love of nature and his oneness with nature, especially on "The Farm" brought great joy to his family and grandchildren. They lovingly called him "Opi". He will be greatly missed by his grandchildren, Matthew McCauley (Belen), Michele McCauley and Anni Lermer; and many cherished friends. Children, Sylvia (Lermer) McCauley (Michael) and Peter Lermer and the love of his life, Anna Marie Lermer ("Omi") will continue to preserve his memory in the everyday wonder that can be found in nature. Being a physician, he was inspired by the works of Albert Schweitzer, M.D., recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize 1953. He embraced the following by Dr. Schweitzer:
"Ethics is nothing else than reverence for life. Reverence for life affords me my fundamental principle of morality, namely that good consists in maintaining, assisting and enhancing life, and to destroy, to harm or hinder life is evil. Affirmation of the world, that is to say, affirmation of the will- to-live which appears in phenomenal form all around me, is only possible for me in that I give myself out for other life."
Services will be held at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd., on Saturday May 23, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. with Fr. Steven Brunovsky officiating, where friends will be received one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment at Rose Hill Burial Park. Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 525 N. Broad St., Canfield, Ohio 44406.