Sherwin Palmer Simmons

SIMMONS, SHERWIN PALMER, prominent national tax lawyer who led the national tax bar for over 51 years in a variety of positions, passed away in Miami, after a long battle with Leukemia, on Wed., May 24, 2006, with his family by his side. Born in Bowling Green, KY, Jan, 19,1931, he was the son of the late Carl Smith Simmons and Helen Creasy Simmons. He is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Mary Anne; his son, Sherwin Palmer, II (Amie) and was looking forward to celebrating the birth of his grandson, Sherwin Palmer, III; his stepson Stephen Andrew Leal (Lisa) and his grandson, William Grayson Leal. He is also survived by his sister, Martha S. Munson, cousin, Hazel Moore, several nephews, nieces, great nephews and nieces and many other family members and friends. He was predeceased by his daughter, Leslie (Chips) in 1973, and his sister, Nancy, in 2004. Visitation will be on Weds., May 31, 6:30- 9:00pm, and the memorial service will be on June 1, at 2:00pm, at Boza & Roel Funeral Home, 4730 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa, followed by a graveside service at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park, 4207 E. Lake Ave., Tampa. Flowers may be sent to the funeral home; or, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Sherwin received his law degree from Columbia University, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar in 1954 and his undergraduate in 1952. He began his career as an Attorney-Advisor for the U.S. Tax Court, Washington D.C., where he later served as a member of the U.S. Tax Court Nominating Commission. He later joined the Tampa law firm of Fowler, White, Collins, Gillen, Humkey & Trenam as an associate and later partner; he was a founding partner and later President of the Tampa law firm of Trenam, Simmons, Kemker, Scharf, Barkin, Frye & O'Neill; he then moved to Miami in 1994, joining the international law firm of Steel Hector & Davis, chairing its tax group; in March 2005, he joined the Miami office of the national law firm of Buchanan Ingersoll PC, serving as Chair of the firm's Florida Tax Practice, Vice Chair of the firm's Tax Section, and member of its Business Tax Practice Group. Sherwin was involved in numerous professional activities. He was a member of the Council of The American Law Institute since 1966 and the ALI-ABA Committee on Continuing Professional Education since 1973. He was a member of the American Bar Association for nearly 50 years, including its Board of Governors; additionally, he was a Chair of the ABA's Section of Taxation in 1975-76 and was a member of numerous other Sections. He was a former President and Board member of the American Bar Retirement Association and a Trustee of the ABA Members Retirement Plan. One of his greatest contributions to the practice of law was in the area of multidisciplinary practice. As Chair of the ABA's Commission on Multidisciplinary Practice, he shaped the debate surrounding what is truly one of the most important decisions facing the legal profession in recent years. Sherwin was also a Chair of the Florida Bar's Section of Tax in 1964-65. He was admitted to practice in Florida and Tennessee, before the U.S. Tax Court, Court of Federal Claims and the U.S. Supreme Court. His more than 50 years of legal experience benefited not only his clients, but also many young attorneys as he served as an adjunct professor for the University of Miami School of Law and Stetson University College of Law. In addition to academics, he imparted to his students the i mportance of being sincere, honest and caring for one's clients, his hallmarks as an attorney. During Sherwin's career, he received numerous honors, including the ABA Section of Tax Distinguished Service Award in 2001 and the Outstanding Tax Attorney in the State of Florida in 1982. Often referred to as the undisputed dean of tax law, Sherwin was a dedicated professional who served his clients, the legal institution and upheld the highest ethical standards. A frequent lecturer at national, regional and local seminars, Sherwin wrote numerous books and articles on tax law. In addition to his professional responsibilities, Sherwin also found time to be active in the community and was known for his fund-raising efforts on behalf of the arts where he served on various boards. Although his professional accomplishments were many, those who knew him said that being a husband and father were his greatest joys. To visit this Guest Book Online, go to www.herald.com/obituaries.