Sherwood H. Sheehan Sr.

Age 85, of Boca Raton, FL, died Wednesday, November 5, 2003 in Boca Raton at his residence, family members present sharing love. He was born February 25, 1918 in Buffalo, NY the son of the late Jeremiah and Lillian Sheehan. Sherwood attended South Park High School in Buffalo. Mr. Sheehan and his brother June had a small business in their adolescent years repairing automobiles. Each brother learned how to fly Steerman biplanes as a hobby in Blasdell, NY. During the US entry into WWII, Sherwood and his brother June entered the Army Air Corp as pilots. During a training exercise June was killed off the coast of Jacksonville, FL. Sherwood H. Sr. went on to be rated on B-17 Bombers and B-24 Bomber Aircrafts. Stationed in Darwin Australia, South Pacific, 5th Air Force; he flew 44 combat missions as a B-24 Liberator Bomber Pilot. Capt. Sheehan's B-24 crew made it home alive after 44 missions. The 45th mission, after reassignment to a new crew and new pilot, crashed and was destroyed on the first mission. Capt. Sheehan had many articles written on his combat flights - one in Buffalo Evening News 'Buffalo officer is hero in fight against 20 Zeros'. Capt. Sheehan received Distinguished Flying Cross with two oakleaf clusters. Air Medal, and several other military awards. Capt. Sheehan was wounded with shrapnel during a mission in combat when asked about the Purple Heart - refused - because did not want to worry the wife and family back in Buffalo, NY. Sherwood H. Sr. met his wife, Norma L. Carson as a high school sweetheart and married November 7, 1942 'Sadie Hawkins Day'. After the war years, Mr. Sheehan returned to Buffalo, NY with wife, Norma and built a small neighborhood shop to repair cars, but had not enough money saved, so he used scrap wood to finish the front door and the building. He bought a wrecked pick up truck; repaired it, and made it a tow truck. Packard Motor company asked him to be a Packard Automobile dealer one year later in 1947. With no money Packard agreed to value his small unfinished building for $20,000 of the $40,000 needed. A brother-in-law and a Buffalo bank agreed to give him a letter of credit for the remaining $20,000 but said 'don't ask for the money'. Packard took off, but soon to be extinct, Sherwood Sr. dropped Packard and took on Nash and Rambler. Nash and Rambler provided good sales until Nash went extinct and Rambler slowed down. So Sheehan dropped Nash and Rambler and took on Desoto and Plymouth. After Desoto and Plymouth slowed down, Sheehan took on Ford Motor as a Ford dealer in Buffalo, NY which he had three locations and was Western New York's largest Ford Dealer. In 1967 he was awarded the Open Point for Pontiac Motor Division in Lighthouse Point, FL out of over 80 applicants. His quotation was 'the harder you worked - the luckier you get'. He was an avid enthusiast of yachts and boats and loved the water. He loved antique automobiles and has a collection of over 10 antique automobiles. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree, member of St. Vincent DePaul Society; and was a Time Magazine Quality Award - Dealer of the Year winner. He was a loving father and loved to fish and enjoyed his family on his time off. He is survived by his wife Norma Sheehan; children, Sharon Best, Sherwood Sheehan Jr., Jeremiah Sheehan and his wife, Cathy, Timothy Sheehan and his wife, Beth and Polly Sheehan and her husband, James; grandchildren, Molly Flynn (James), Bridget Rummell (Joseph), Thomas Glavey, Paul Glavey, Brendan Glavey, Megan Glavey, Michelle CoTe (Sylvian), Sherwood Sheehan III (Lori), Jeremiah Sheehan Jr., Kristopher Shirm, Andrew Sheehan, Katie O'Neill, Kelly O'Neill, Amanda O'Neill; and four great-grandchildren. Predeceased by sisters, Virginia Sheehan Hehman, Gloria Sheehan Hunt, Rosemarie Sheehan Hayes, Margaret Sheehan Bainbrige and brother, June Sheehan. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Carmelite Monastery, 75 Carmel Road, Buffalo, NY 14214. THE BABIONE FUNERAL HOME (East Chapel) in charge of arrangements.