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George Sherinian Obituary
George Arthur Sherinian Jr. died at home September 7 following a brief and courageous battle with esophageal cancer. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Mr. Sherinian spent most of his adult life as a Santa Cruz resident. He earned his Bachelors degree from University of California - Irvine and upon completion of his studies at UC - Hastings was admitted to the California State Bar in January 1971. His distinguished career in constitutional law earned him national recognition, participating in cases from coast to coast. He also engaged in a number of business endeavors during his professional career.
George was an active member of First Congregational Church - Santa Cruz and volunteered time to COPA and the youth at the Santa Cruz Juvenile Hall.
Upon his retirement in 2007, he spent most of his time enjoying friends and playing golf. He is survived by his wife, Caryl; daughter Demian of Capitola; son Derek of Burbank and Derek's wife Annie and their children Summer and Halen; sister Roxanna Lightfoot and niece Cherisse of Las Vegas; and cousin Brian Barents of Kansas City.
A service to celebrate the extraordinary life of George Sherinian will be held Saturday October 1 at the First Congregational Church at 11 am.
Please direct any gifts of remembrance to First Congregational Church or Hospice - Santa Cruz.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for George Sherinian
Dodd Hessey
September 6, 2024
George, miss you everyday. Dodd
Dodd Hessey
September 4, 2021
Georgie...you are with me daily and I am thankful for this. You were and still are a reason for me to smile. Love you, Brother.
Mark Clarke
September 4, 2021
Got you with me George, your friend always!
Lee Casegrillo
September 4, 2021
Georgie, my dear, dear friend who became my brother from the time we met hiding out behind a tree in the woods
to escape being in Sunday School. We were 4 years old and shared the common cause of looking after one-another from that point on. I miss you!
francis hessey
September 4, 2020
Besides being a brilliant man, George was an imp, a jokester. We were down in Ixtapa, Mexico, playing golf, when after a round several people came over and bought us drinks out of the blue. "What's this all about?" I said to George. His reply, "I've told people you're Herman Hesse's nephew, don't tell 'em otherwise," and laughed. I loved George. He was the older brother I never had. And, yes, Derek, I also think about him everyday.
Derek Sherinian
September 4, 2020
Dad, I miss you so much and I think about you every day. You would be proud of your grandchildren, they are growing up so fast. It is hard to believe it has been 9 years. I will be thinking of you on your 80th on the 11th.
I hope you are resting in peace with the angels dad, I will see you in a few decades. Love, Derek
Thomas Kelly
October 7, 2011
George, I was glad we had the chance to interact before you departed to the "Great Golf Course in the Sky." You have been such a good friend, listener, adviser, etc. Some of the best times I can ever remember were with you! I will miss you and think of you often!
Thank you for your kindness and forever Friendship...May the Golfing Angels keep you in the palm of your hand, Mi Amigo and when I want a laugh I will think of our dance our "Zorba the Greek dance in Cabo and the tourist asking you to take thier picture in P.V. (with your tan they thought you were Hispanic then they tipped you $5.00)!
To Derek and Family, thank you for your kindness in keeping me up to date and I am sorry I missed the celebration of George's life, which should have take a week, but I was out of town. I will touch base with you soon.
George, I will see you with the "Great Spirit in the Sky"...Your Friend, love ya guy!
Oh, and say hello to all of our friends up there me,
Tom Kelly
Caryl Williamson
October 7, 2011
My best friend, keeper of my most secret secrets, I miss our laughter and conversations - all the adventures we shared each day. Our love is eternal, Caryl
Charles Putris
October 1, 2011
George thinking about you today and we will be thinking of you always. love patty and charles
John and Pat Bakalian
September 30, 2011
We'll miss you greatly George, our friend. I'll remember all the good times we had over the 40 years we were friends. There were no bad times. I played golf and teed it up for you George, right down the middle. Kisses to all the family members. Much Love to you All. You will always be in our memory.
Dad and Halen
September 30, 2011
Dad, I took Summer to ice cream for her 5th birthday. Outside of the store there is a water fountain where she always throws a penny to make a wish. She closed her eyes and threw the coin in. I asked her, "What did you wish honey?" She replied, "I wish that Grandpa could come down from heaven and have ice cream with us."
We miss you and love you so much,
Derek
Fred Fahrner
September 29, 2011
George was a great man and great friend.
His ability to communicate and connect with a multitude of people at a multitude of levels being one Georges most impressive attributes.
George will always be remembered with great love and admiration.
We should have had more time.
Rest in peace my friend.
Roxana Sherinian Lightfoot
September 19, 2011
Dear George,my only #1 Brother. I am blessed to have had you for 71years, not long enough. I will cherish the memories we shared growing up and as adults. I will love you forever my darling. Stay peaceful. Will see you later! Medz Machikner,forever your #1 Sister.
Roxana Sherinian Lightfoot
September 19, 2011
My Dear #1 and only Brother George; I am so blessed to have had you for 71 years. I will cherish the memories and love you forever. Peace my darling. See you later! Medz Machikner. #1 Sister
September 19, 2011
Our whole family shall miss the love and true friendship George brought to each and every one of us.My husband Joe shall miss his "brother" in too many ways to count, I shall miss him telling me he misses my Christmas cookies. My memories of George are many, but the best ones are of his Sunday brunches he used to have for all to come, eat, swim, and make merry.Then I shall miss calling him up on New Year's eve for his "Word" for the coming year...like, "let's all be true for 2002", or something quirky...but most of all I shall miss the sincere love and interest he always took in friends and family....and the more difficult the situation, the greater he was at navigating it! George dear, what a wonderful gift you are to all whose lives you touched! The image dims, but the memory lingers....farewell, until we meet again.... God Bless You, the De Lecce family
Speed Leas
September 18, 2011
George made folks he met feel like they were someone of importance. He listened appreciatively and respectfully to those he met for the first time as well those who have been his acquaintences for years. In every endeavor in which he was involved all who knew him liked him. He died too soon. He will be greatly missed by me and many, many others.
Don Enos
September 18, 2011
George was one of the smartest, coolest, funniest, nicest guy I've met! He had the most interesting stories from his life experiences and he also had great words of wisdom that always made perfect sense in your life!He never sugarcoated his words and meant what he said! I had some of the best times with George, especially at the Monterey Blues Fest where we listened to so many great bands together for over 25 years! I will miss George very much and concider myself lucky and privileged to have been his friend!
Last round at Pajaro
Charles Putris
September 18, 2011
George came into my life when I was eleven or twelve and my family lived in Michigan. He married my cousin Yvonne and as we all grew up we always lived near each other from Michigan to California. George was a great salesman and he became an even greater lawyer. He had a distinguished career in Santa Cruz and countless numbers of people had their lives saved by George when they got caught up in the system. He always fought the hardest for the "little guy" who had no clout. As a family member he was a giving and positive person without reservation. To know him was to love him. Another way to know George was to compete with him, in dominoes, tennis, golf, chess, or philosophical or sporting discussions. He was a world class athlete and a world class brain. So much fun to be with and so smart about the big and the little things. Our deepest condolences to Yvonne, Derek and Demian, and to his wife, Caryl, who fought his last fight with him and was there for him when he needed her most.
Mark Clarke
September 17, 2011
My friend George, a man who calmly accepted impossible situations with courage and dignity, who reached out and gave to the lives of so many, you are greatly missed and I am honored to be your friend.
Eternally
Dodd Hessey
September 17, 2011
George is the older brother I always needed. He taught me a great deal and I loved him dearly. I will miss him immensely and hope he and Monk get a chance to play a few holes together. I never laughed as hard as with these two. Thank you Caryl for your amazing strength and kindness.
September 16, 2011
MY MEMORIES OF GEORGE GO BACK TO HIGH SCHOOL AND MORE SPECIFICALLY OUR TRIP TO MEXICO AND MORE RECENTLY OUR REUNION.I AM SORRY I DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW HIM LATER IN LIFE. FONDLY BARBARA SADOWSKI-CUMMINS
To my father
Derek Sherinian
September 15, 2011
My dad was a great man and a great father. I am glad that he lived long enough to meet his two grandchildren Summer and Halen who brought him much joy.
We will greatly miss him greatly.
Derek Sherinian
Sunset in Laguna
Lee Casegrillo
September 13, 2011
Dearest George,
You have been my "brother" since we were 4 years old. And you have been very special to my husband, Chris, and children, Mark and Ian, for many, many years. We love you and miss you.
To see Caryl and George find one another again after the many years passed since we were in high school was a true blessing.
Our wishes for love and peace go to Caryl, Derek, Demian, Rox, Vonne, and the whole family as well as to all who knew and loved George.
Lisa Tkoch
September 13, 2011
I've always thought of George as my mentor; he was and will always be one of my absolute favorite people. I am grateful to have known him, he truly was one of a kind... I'm so glad he and Caryl reconnected- she meant the world to him... Rest in peace George; love and miss you...
Tanya Reeves
September 12, 2011
George was a very unique person, and his friendship meant a great deal to me. I have a lot of very wonderful memories. I will miss him dearly.
Robert Borelli
September 10, 2011
Loved playing golf with you and Monk times i will never forget,what a great man thanks for the memmories
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