Sherman Chavoor

CHAVOOR, Sherman Sherman Chavoor was born in Los Angeles in 1914 and died on January 29, 2008. He attended Polytechnic High School (in Los Angeles) and UCLA. Sherman was an outstanding athlete. His first love was football, playing center and defensive line backer in high school and college. While in high school, he was named to the Los Angeles All City first team in 1932 and 1933; and while at UCLA, was named to the All Coast team in 1935. In 1935, Sherman also was named UCLA's most valuable player. He lettered in 1934, 1935, and 1936. Sherman loved to win. He played a fierce game, and was known for his courage and sportsmanship. Following his marriage to Lily Bedig in 1939, Sherman began a 35-year career with the Burbank Unified School District. He started out at Burbank High School, teaching mathematics and physical education and coaching football. In 1942, he volunteered for the United States Army where he taught celestial navigation. He returned to the Burbank Schools in 1945, and became an administrator in 1950. He rounded out his career serving as the Principal of John Burroughs High School from 1964 to 1974. Sherman always went beyond the call of duty in carrying out his responsibilities; he maintained and promoted excellent parent-teacher relationships, and contributed significantly to the general programs of the schools and community he served. Throughout his career and in retirement, Sherman belonged to many professional and civic organizations, often serving as an officer and/or director. Among them are the Kiwanis Club of Burbank, Camp Fire Girls Council of Burbank, YMCA, United Way, Red Cross, and Burbank Temporary Aid Center. He also served on the Burbank Community Development and Goals Committee, Civil Service Board, and Board of Building and Fire Code Appeals. An avid bridge player, he was a volunteer bridge teacher at the Joslyn Adult Center and the Director of the Joslyn Duplicate Bridge Club in Burbank. Sherman is survived by his daughter, Jean Chavoor, of Burbank; his sister, Evelyn Chavoor, of Washington, D.C.; and his sister-in-law, Freda Stephen, of Watertown, Massachusetts. Contributions to: Burbank Temporary Aid Center, 1304 West Burbank Blvd., Burbank, CA 91506; or BPIE/Field Campaign, c/o Burbank Chamber of Commerce, 200 West Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA 91502, are welcome. Burbank Temporary Aid Center is dedicated to helping homeless and low-income members of the Burbank community with the necessities of life. Burbank Priorities in Education/Field Campaign is part of an effort to renovate and rebuild Memorial Stadium at John Burroughs High School and install all-weather tracks and fields at John Burroughs High School and Burbank High School.