Hometown mechanic

BY GINNY PRIVITAR
WEST MILFORD — Eric Schoemer loves working on cars and realized a lifelong dream by opening his own repair shop, Highlander Auto, this past Memorial Day weekend. He’s worked on his own cars for years and five years ago started doing repairs for others, both at home and working for an auto repair shop in Wayne.
“I’ve been doing auto repair for at least 10 years and I got sick of working in my driveway on my back,” He said. “I grew up in West Milford and thought this was the best place to open a shop — where I was raised.”
In the past, he’s worked from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and realized having his own shop would also give him more family time with his wife, Karen Lucas, and sons.
“I decided it was time to be able to spend more time with the kids whenever we want to, because we only have a few precious years with them until they are off on their own journey,” said Schoemer.
“Life is too short to be that serious,” he said with humor.
Schoemer's auto repair skills are self-taught, but that doesn't necessarily run in the family.
“My dad was into computers; he had nothing to do with cars," he said. "He and my family were very supportive in motivating me to do it.”
Schoemer is also up on computerized components of cars.
“There’s so much technology, you’ve got to keep up with the programming and computers,” he said.
Since his dad was a computer programmer, Schoemer has been familiar with computers since he was three.
“Computers just come naturally to me,” he said.

A devoted family man and giving businessman

Schoemer is a man of faith and a proud family man, too. The whole family attends Queen of Peace and shares a tradition of giving to the community.
His wife, Karen Lucas, was the former head of the spinal cord unit at Kessler Institute. His stepsons Shane, 15, and Gavin Lucas, 11, are active in Scouting and his son, Ryder Schoemer, almost 6, will be joining them in Boy Scout Troop 159 on Sept. 24. Shane is waiting for approval to start his Eagle Project.
Schoemer gives discounts to many local groups. He always gives 10 percent off for police, EMTs, firefighters, members of the military and any family members of Boy Scout Troop 159, the West Milford Football team and Special Olympic families. He gives low income families a break, too, through The Highland Family Success Center.
The boys help in the shop, too.
“I love it because they all work on cars with me; even Ryder,” Schoemer said.
Schoemer loves talking about his boys. Shane is an altar server, participates in Scouting’s Order of the Arrow, and is a leader in National Youth Leadership Training. Gavin is in his second year playing for the West Milford football team, and is a high honor student. Ryder runs track for Special Olympics and is on the basketball and bowling teams.
“They all bring their own character to the family," Schoemer said. "I couldn’t do it without Karen and the boys. I’ve always wanted a shop and I never would have gone through with it if it wasn’t for them."
When he’s not working, Schoemer spends a lot of time with the boys, throwing a football around, watching movies, playing Xbox, fishing and barbecuing. The family also loves going down the shore, "jumping waves or hitting the boardwalk while visiting Karen’s and my parents.”