Sherman Shou-Chou Wu

1928 - 2020

BORN

1928

DIED

2020

FUNERAL HOME

La Paloma Funeral Services East - Las Vegas

5450 Stephanie Street

Las Vegas, Nevada

Sherman Wu Obituary

Name: Memorial service for Sherman Shou-Chou Wu
Start: 2020-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
Location: La Paloma Funeral Services East - Las Vegas

Sherman Shou-Chou Wu

Sherman Shou-Chou Wu, born on April 9, 1928, died at 92 years of age on August 22, 2020 with family by his side.

Astrogeologists know him as Dr. Mars for the integral role he played in creating the first topographical map of Mars and other interstellar bodies. The asteroid (2075), discovered on October 9, 1980, is named after him for his influential contributions. Even in his "retirement," his expertise was highly regarded. He moved to Las Vegas from Flagstaff to work as a consultant with the U.S. Department of Energy.

To the people of his hometown, a remote village in China accessible only by foot, he remains an inspiration and benefactor. Neighboring villagers would welcome home their celebrity by setting off firecrackers, waving celebratory banners, and preparing a feast with only the best of their limited resources. His visits ended with them enthusiastically thanking him for the roads and schools he had built for them and flocking to him to bask in his exceptionalism, even if just for the briefest of moments. Even now, they are working to erect a monument in his honor as a beacon of hope to future generations.

He valued filial piety and academic excellence above all. His passion for mathematics translated to a passion for blackjack and other games involving probabilities and statistics. He loved deeply and widely, was generous with both his praises and criticisms, and approached all aspects of his life with perseverance, stubbornness, and grit tempered by a quick wit, charming smile, and roguish nature.

He will be forever remembered by his children Alan (Jessica), Stella, Dona (Louis), Rita (Brannon), and Doug. He will also be remembered by his grandchildren Brian, Sam, Ryker, Sofia, and Alexander; his sisters Xue Fen (Zhou Bing Guang) and Xue Huan; and his nieces and nephews Zhou Zengwen, Zhou Zengwu, Zhou Zengrong, Zhou Zengjian, Tian Jingsen, Tian Jinglin, Tian Jingrong, Tian Jingying, Sandy, and Atlas.

A memorial service will be live streamed on September 8, 2020, starting at 5 PM PDT from La Paloma Funeral Services at 5450 Stephanie St. Las Vegas, NV 89122. Please contact [email protected] for link details if you are interested in viewing the memorial. Family and friends may sign an online memorial guestbook at https://lapalomafuneralservices.com/obituaries/

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made payable to the Sherman Wu Trust and sent to 566 South McCaslin Blvd #270743, Superior CO 80027.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Arizona Republic from Sep. 3 to Sep. 4, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Sherman Wu

Sponsored by La Paloma Funeral Services East - Las Vegas.

3 Entries

Jerry Joseph Lorenz

June 26, 2021

Sherman has been a friend of mine since the mid-1980´s. I became involved with him when he was mapping the potential Yucca Mountain repository site in Nevada. He used to call me in Las Vegas from Flagstaff around noon every Friday. We became close friends, and after I recommended him for a position with the Remote Sensing Laboratory in Las Vegas, He began treating me and my wife to dinner every year on my birthday. He enjoyed playing blackjack and always won back his treat money when we were at a casino. I edited articles and other documents for him as a favor, including his over-sized 200-page book: THE DR WU I KNOW - For Celebration of Dr Wu´s 80 Years Young - 2007. An acknowledgement of my help and three photos of my wife and I are included in the book. Sherman took great joy in educating his children, and his efforts were rewarded with exceptionally well-educated and successful adults. Sherman was very careful with his health and frequently forecast his determination that he was going to live to 120. Unfortunately, he was wrong about that.

Jerry Joseph Lorenz

June 26, 2021

Sherman has been a friend of mine since the mid-1980´s. I became involved with him when he was mapping the potential Yucca Mountain repository site in Nevada. He used to call me in Las Vegas from Flagstaff around noon every Friday. We became close friends, and after I recommended him for a position with the Remote Sensing Laboratory in Las Vegas, He began treating me and my wife to dinner every year on my birthday. He enjoyed playing blackjack and always won back his treat money when we were at a casino. I edited articles and other documents for him as a favor, including his over-sized 200 -page book: THE DR WU I KNOW - For Celebration of Dr Wu´s 80 Years Young - 2007. An acknowledgement of my help and three photos of my wife and I are included in the book. Sherman took great joy in educating his children, and his efforts were rewarded with exceptionally well-educated and successful adults. Sherman was very careful with his health and frequently forecast his determination that he was going to live to 120. Unfortunately, he was wrong about that.

Christine Muehlbauer

September 8, 2020

I did not know Sherman extremely well, but I did have a bit of a chance to get to know him several years ago while working at the RSL Facility. He was a very kind soul and highly thought of by everyone. Rest in peace Sherman. Prayers and love to his family and friends.

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