Daniel David Sherr

Rarely has the spirit of positivity lived in a person as it did in Daniel David Sherr, who passed away peacefully in Connecticut on February 22, 2025 at the age of 84 with his wife, Margaret Ferguson, by his side.

Born on November 16, 1940 to George William Sherr and Mary Coyle Sherr, his curiosity and ambition took him from Allentown, PA to Pennsylvania State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Economics and his Master of Science in Business Administration.

A pioneer of advanced statistical modelling using personalized data to market products to consumers, he completed his MBA in 1964 and joined a small group of young turks who experimented in the emerging field of consumer research at the General Foods Company. He earned the chance to apply these ideas as brand manager for Maxwell House Coffee, and then jumped to Quaker Oats as Group Brand Manager.

In his thirties, he and a team of innovative marketers segmented the entire U.S. Census into 40 demographic profiles and provided the first "cluster" target marketing solution for consumer marketers. Their product, PRIZM, pioneered the methods of using consumer data to target personalized advertising and coupons to individual consumers. PRIZM was acquired by Nielsen and continues to be used today to classify every U.S. household into one of 68 consumer segments based on the household's purchasing preferences.

Dan would continue to innovate in the use of personal data to market products and services leading IRI Neilsen. He twice failed at retirement, returning to develop and lead advanced analytic marketing solution divisions at ADVO and Valassis before both firms were acquired.

As an entrepreneur and advocate, Dan made every place he contributed to better, and was exemplary as a leader and mentor. His spare time was spent contributing as a board member and advisor to numerous non-profits, especially those in his cherished community of Washington, Connecticut. He was dedicated to the Gunn Memorial Library, Washington Art Association, Lake Waramaug Task Force, Washington Economic Development, Connecticut Community Foundation, Housatonic Valley Association, Jane Do No More, and many others.

An amateur photographer and art collector, he had an eye for beauty that was matched by his mental focus and largesse of spirit, qualities that made him revered by many. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him, and remembered for his wisdom, insight and generosity. Dan is survived by his loving wife Margaret, his brother William (Maureen), his three children Leslie (John), Peter (Karen), Katherine (Frederic) and his five beloved grandchildren Audrey, Hayden, Georgia, Alexian and Lily.

A private memorial is to be planned.