James H. Sherman M.D.

October 2, 1941 - April 26, 2025 James Sherman was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Hilde and Walter Sherman. By two years old, his family had moved to Los Angeles, where Jim ("Jimmy" to his childhood friends) would call home for the rest of his life.
Jim attended LA High, graduating in 1959. He went on to UCLA for his undergraduate studies, and then USC Medical School, where he would ultimately focus on Gastroenterology, his medical specialty for the ensuing 50 years.
After school, Jim served his country as a physician in the US Army.
While in medical school, Jim was set up on a blind date with Geri Hirsch, an undergraduate UCLA student at the time. At first leery of this young man with "Buddy Holly" black rimmed eyeglasses, and hardly a few pennies to rub together, Geri was quickly won over by Jimmy's wide smile and brilliant sense of humor.
On December 24th, 1966, they wed and so began a 58 year partnership that only gained strength and devotion as the years passed. Geri and Jim welcomed three boys, Jeff, Eric, and Matt.
Professionally, Jim was a skilled and highly regarded gastroenterologist, working at Cedars Sinai since its doors opened in 1976. His patients adored him, and his colleagues deeply respected him.
Jim's commitment to his profession was matched only by his unwavering devotion to his wife and children. When he wasn't seeing patients or rounding at the hospital, Jim was almost singularly focused on providing a home for his family that he never had as a child.
Dad never missed an opportunity to coach little league, take his family on trips, and teach his boys invaluable life lessons. He led his family by example, showing his boys how to work, how to treat people, and how to be someone of substance through deeds and respect.
Perhaps Jim's greatest role was "Papa," a title he earned in 1998 with the birth of his first of seven grandchildren. Papa loved each and every grandchild for their uniqueness and special qualities. He checked in on everyone almost constantly, signing off on texts and calls with "kisses from Papa."
Those who were lucky enough to know Jim and count him as a friend, knew him to be selfless, kind, and hilarious. Jim was magnetic, drawing people in with his authenticity and gentleness.
No one saw those qualities in Jim more clearly than Geri, his partner and soulmate for almost 60 years. As the decades passed, the couple's love only blossomed brighter, and they renewed their commitment to one another in 2016 at Elvis' Chapel of Love in Las Vegas in front of their friends and proud family.
Jim is survived by his wife Geri, sons Jeff (Barbara), Eric (Jacquelyn), and Matt (Alison), grandchildren Alex, Amanda, Jackson, Devyn, Zackary, Caroline, and Grace, sister Eve, bother-in-law and sister-in-law David and Cheryl Hirsch, and nephew Brian (Jeanette) Hirsch.
May Jim's memory be a blessing.