Frank W. SHERMAN

SHERMAN, Frank W. Frank W. Sherman, 86, died on Monday (October 4, 2010) at Caleb Hitchcock Health Center in Bloomfield, Connecticut after suffering a severe stroke. Frank was born in 1924 in Owen, Wisconsin, the son of Francis and Hilda Sherman. His father was an Episcopalian minister who was assigned to several different churches and Indian reservations across the west and midwest during Frank's childhood. Frank graduated from Duluth Central High School in Duluth, Minnesota. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and was stationed in England, serving as a navigator on a B-17 'Flying Fortress' bomber. After the war, Frank attended Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, graduating in 1950. Frank married Marjorie (Marge) Mering of Kansas City, Missouri in 1950. The family lived in Iowa, South Dakota and Missouri in the 1950s while Frank built a career in the marketing division of Union Carbide. Frank and Marge transplanted the family to Old Greenwich, Connecticut in 1960 when Frank moved to the International Marketing division in New York City. Frank rose to the position of Director of International Marketing for Consumer Products at Union Carbide and traveled all over the world before retiring in 1979. He had a second career at his alma mater, Trinity College, as the Director of Alumni Giving, where he dramatically increased the level of contributions. A devoted family man, Frank was also an active volunteer and leader in school, church and community organizations throughout his life. In Old Greenwich, he and Marge were leaders in the high school PTA. Frank was the scoutmaster of the local Boy Scout troop for several years and a leader at St Saviour's and Christ Church, and served on the boards of local clubs and nonprofits. Frank was an active Trinity alumnus for decades, fundraising and organizing many reunions of classmates and football teammates. Marge and Frank retired to Waitsfield, Vermont in 1986 and continued their community involvement. Frank served on the local school board and helped to found St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church and the Green Mountain Cultural Center, an arts organization. The Shermans relocated to New London, New Hampshire in 2000, where Frank serving on the Bandstand Committee for the town of New London, and was also a member of the board of his residence association. After his wife's death in 2007, Frank moved to Duncaster in Bloomfield, Connecticut. Once settled, he became involved in planning and fundraising for a new dining facility. Frank remained very active in his retirement; he enjoyed travelling, tennis, cycling, and skiing. Frank is survived by his two sisters, Marian LeGrand of Sioux City, Iowa and Betty Cedergren of Lindstrom, Minn.; two daughters, Cathy Jane Sherman of York, Pa. and Margaret Jean Sherman of Old Greenwich, Ct.; and two sons, James Andrew Sherman of Andover, Ma., and Thomas William Sherman of Chicago, Il.; three granddaughters, four grandsons and several nieces and nephews. A service in celebration of his life will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church at 679 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT on October 16, 2010, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005, or www.heart.org.