DALEVILLE (WSLS10) - At least 48 people have died, including 12 in the Commonwealth, as a result of the massive snowstorm that pounded the East Coast.
Friday, Jerry Scheeler, 68, a former professor at Virginia Tech, died after suffering a severe cardiac event from snow shoveling outside of his home. He was known for his cinematography and popularity among Tech students.
Recommended Videos
With heavy hearts family and close friends of Scheeler filled Rader Funeral Home.
"Every day we just have to remind ourselves its real, it's not a dream and we're never going to see him again," said Samual Key, a close family friend. "It's hard."
Family of Scheeler told us when they received the call from the hospital, they were in disbelief. But, now several days after Scheeler's passing they reminisce about the positive.
"He had the best stories," said Sarah Woodruff, Sheeler's step daughter. "Anytime that you asked him a question he's reference it back to a moment in his life and it was incredible just to listen."
Woddruff told us her biological father passed away when she was 13-years-old. She never thought she would find someone to fill that void, until she met Scheeler.
"I saw how gentle, how sweet and just how incredible of human being he was," commented Woodruff. "I knew that he could complete our family."
Woodruff said she shared a special bond with her step father. Scheeler was there for every moment from her college graduation to the birth of her children. Woodruff added he was a humble man who had the opportunity to travel the world and shoot video for National Geographic. But, most remember Scheeler as a film fanatic; when talking about film he was in his element.
"He loved to share that knowledge to anybody that would listen," said Sheeler's step daughter. "He had books and books and he has movies alphabetized. And he wanted to share that show everybody else how cool it could be."
Scheeler worked at Virginia Tech for more than 45-years and taught cinematography for about 20. Now, with students across the world, family has received numerous messages and kind words from people they've never meet -- showing just how many lives Scheeler touched.