Scott M. Schlieper

In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be sent to: BSA Troop 114, care of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 454 Germantown Road, West Milford, NJ 07480  and would be greatly appreciated. Please note: Troop 114 donation cards will be available at the funeral home.

Scott M. Schlieper, age 69, of West Milford, NJ, passed on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

He was born to Arthur and Doris Schlieper in the historic seaport city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire and raised in the coastal town of Rye, New Hampshire.  Scott graduated from Portsmouth High School with the Class of 1973 and attended the University of New Hampshire.

Scott was a man whose passions flowed as naturally as the water he loved so much and started his working life on a lobster boat for Skipper Mike Flanagan, before working as a server for The Bratskeller in Portsmouth, NH which still exists to this day!  His love for the ocean later led him to work as a First Mate on a private yacht, sailing in the Caribbean.  In due course, he immersed himself in the restaurant world again starting as a server, and promoted to the Captain Waiter position conducting tableside service in the US Virgin Island of St. Thomas.

Returning stateside, Scott worked alongside his eldest brother Arthur, at TIECO Sales, a packaging brokerage company out of Ramsey, NJ, before founding his own company, The SMS Group in Hewitt, NJ, where he specialized in the grocery packaging industry reacting to the times by introducing reusable options. 

Later, Scott returned to his passion for food, working in food preparation and management at The Chelsea of West Milford, NJ where he advanced from line cook to Food Director in a few short years . During the COVID-19 crisis, Scott was an essential worker who worked tirelessly each day to ensure residents received nourishing meals. His career path reflected not only his versatility but also his quiet devotion to serving others, with his culinary skill always at the heart of his work. He later brought his dedication and talent to the Arbor Ridge Rehab and Health Care Center in Wayne, from where he retired in 2022.

Whether boating, fishing, or simply spending time by the shore, he felt most at home on the water. He carried that same adventurous spirit into camping trips in his time with the Boy Scout of America Troop 114 St. Joseph, West Milford.  As an Assistant Scout Master and Merit Badge Counselor, he volunteered for many years as he proudly watched both of his sons, Matthew and Jeremy, achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. 

A lifelong learner, Scott had a deep appreciation for history, especially World War II, and could often be found absorbed in the History Channel or discussing details of the era. He also enjoyed movies, but it was especially Star Trek—with its cerebral plotlines—that truly captured his imagination. An avid reader, he treasured the timeless works of J.R.R. Tolkien, particularly The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Music was another of his great loves: he played guitar, sang with joy, and especially admired the iconic sound of Queen, whose songs were often part of his own soundtrack of life. Scott also had a New England “wicked smart” sense of humor, was outgoing, and tackled just about every situation with laughter, making even ordinary moments brighter for those around him.  

Scott’s love story with Heather began in a way that perfectly reflected his resourceful, adventurous spirit. Introduced by Heather’s sister Elizabeth, who worked in the packaging industry, their first meeting took place on Scott’s cabin cruiser, aptly named “Tieco Sails” on the Hudson River. 

True to form, Scott was in the middle of repairing the boat when they arrived—ever the natural ‘MacGyver’ who could fix anything. After setting things right, he took his guests cruising down the Hudson,  a prelude to the next day’s adventure touring New York City. Together they ascended the World Trade Center and shared drinks at the iconic Windows on the World, with moments that sparked a romance. Scott proposed to Heather on his beloved boat,  and they were married on September 10, 1989, in York, Maine, celebrating with a reception held on a boat!  Though Hurricane Hugo forced the party onto inland waterways, their joy was undimmed. 

Their honeymoon in Hawaii came with its own comic twist—discovering in the second week that their camera had been empty of film the entire first week. Through it all, Scott and Heather built a marriage of thirty-six years, navigating cultural differences between his American roots and her British heritage with love, loyalty, and devotion to their family. For many years, Heather and Scott were parishioners of Saint Joseph's Church in West Milford where Scott was also a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Scott leaves behind, his dearly loved family consisting of: Wife Heather Todd-Schlieper; eldest son, Matthew Schlieper and his wife Megan Sharma and beloved Grandson, William Schlieper of Barre, Vermont;  youngest son, Jeremy Schlieper and his fiancé Nicolle Chirinos of Wayne; sister, Jean Cave of Torrington, Connecticut, and brothers, Mark Schlieper and his wife Pam of Rye, New Hampshire, Bruce Schlieper  and his wife Lisa of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the late Arthur “Sandy” Schlieper (d.2016) and his surviving wife Becky Schlieper of Raleigh, North Carolina and the late John Schlieper (d.2023) of Marathon Key, Florida.

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In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be sent to: BSA Troop 114, care of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 454 Germantown Road, West Milford, NJ 07480  and would be greatly appreciated. Please note: Troop 114 donation cards will be available at the funeral home.