Philip John Sheridan

Sheridan Philip John Sheridan, 89, passed away on March 18, 2017. He was born on October 28, 1927 in San Antonio to Dennis Patrick and Mary Felicitas Sheridan, early residents of Alamo Heights. Philip was reared with his eight siblings and his work ethic was formed early in life when he began his paper route on bicycle while at Alamo Heights High School and expanded his route in college from the back of his car. He found time to become an Eagle Scout in Troop 31, which still meets at St. Peter's Catholic Church. In college, he played basketball with the St. Mary's Rattlers and in 1949 earned a degree in history from St. Mary's University. After graduation, his passion for Latin American history motivated him to take a 77 day trip via jeep to Buenos Aires, Argentina where he secured a teaching post in the American High School. With the outbreak of the Korean War, Philip returned to the United States and enlisted in the Marine Corps, and was honorably discharged as a commissioned Lieutenant. After separation from the Marine Corps, Philip traveled to Michigan where his former school principal in Buenos Aires offered him a teaching job in Ann Arbor. He supplemented his teaching salary by transporting racing horses and while on a TWA flight after such a transport, he met his future wife, Rosemary Barron. Her roommates persuaded her to go out with the tall blue-eyed Texan simply to get him to quit calling. She hung up her TWA wings and they married in 1954, initially settling in Ann Arbor where he continued to teach school while obtaining a Master's degree in School Administration from the University of Michigan. Determined to leave the Michigan winters behind him, Philip and Rosemary with their first born infant headed south to his native San Antonio. He then began teaching with the North East School District and became a member of the St. Mary's University Night School Faculty teaching Latin American History. It was at this time that his analysis of the French Intervention in Mexico, entitled, The Committee of Mexican Bondholders and European Intervention, 1861, was published. Shortly afterward, the Naylor Company published "Francisco de Miranda: Forerunner of Latin American Independence," which he completed as part of his doctoral studies in Latin American History under the guidance of Dr. Carlos Castaneda at the University of Texas. Meanwhile, Philip was offered his first school principal position with the Northeast School District and was also commissioned by the Knights of Columbus Historical Commission to do the annotated Index and Bibliography of Carlos Castaneda's entire seven volume definitive history of the Catholic Church in Texas: "Our Catholic Heritage in Texas, 1519 -1950." Even as a school principal, Philip always had summer jobs, and his first contract was providing food service at the Alamo Heights Swimming Pool. He then procured the contract to provide food services at the City of San Antonio Swimming Pools, and in Brackenridge Park, but HemisFair '68 changed everything and he resigned his school principal position. He was awarded the exclusive ice contract for the entire fair and held the food and beer contract for the HemisFair Arena between 1967 and 1974. That food and beer contract became a key component in bringing a professional basketball franchise to San Antonio and so Philip Sheridan sold his contract to the franchise that we now know as the SPURS. During HemisFair '68, he became friends with many of the carnival contractors who operated rides and food concessions at the fair. The same wanderlust that had lured him to South America earlier in his life prompted him to invest in mobile food trailers that travelled to various fairs throughout the United States and Canada until 2007. During this time, his operation had expanded to include rides and the exclusive carnival contract for the Fiesta Commission for 25 years and the San Antonio Livestock Exposition for 19 years. In addition to the operation of the Brackenridge Park Snack Bar, in 1988 he also acquired the contracts to operate the Brackenridge Park train and skyride for 12 years. Scholastic endeavors remained a part of his life and in 1988, Philip completed another Master's degree - this time in Theology at St. Mary's University. He continued to write and published two additional books: A Layman's Prayer Book in 1999, and St. Margaret Mary, Discipline of the Sacred Heart, 2002, and in 2014, he edited and published an abridgement of the 17th century publication, The Mystical City of God, Life of the Virgin Mother of God. Throughout the trials and tribulations of his life, the Catholic Church and his veneration of the Blessed Mother gave him solace and strength. Philip J. Sheridan was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Council # 786 and was honored by Pope Paul VI to become a Knight of St. Gregory. He and his wife and family were charter members of St. Pius X Parish. In the last few years of his life, as the world around him was rapidly changing, he sought out the simplicity of pre Vatican II practices of the Society of St. Pius X at St. Joseph's Church, and appreciated the Latin Mass that reminded him of his youth. Philip was preceded in death by his parents; his three brothers, Dennis, Edward, and Tom; and four of his sisters, Helen Barron, Mary Graviss, Betty Kosub, and Anne Riordan. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Rosemary Barron Sheridan; his five children, Brigid and husband Jon Krick, Eileen and husband Dr. Joseph Shayeb, Molly Sheridan, Philip Jude Sheridan, and Patrick Sheridan. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Gabrielle and Miriam Shayeb, Christopher "CAS" Sheridan, Alexandra and Olivia Krick, and Aranza and Philip Juan Sheridan Galeano. Philip is also survived by one sister, Pat Woollett, and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to express their gratitude for the excellent and compassionate care provided to Philip Sheridan during the last three months by University Hospital Reeves Rehabilitation Center, Health South Rehabilitation Hospital Midland, and Midland Memorial Hospital. Rosary was held on Friday, March 24, 2017 followed by Mass at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 3907 Harry Wurzbach, San Antonio. Private interment will be held at a later time at Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, and to honor the many fine young students who worked for Philip Sheridan over the years, it is requested that donations be made to any of the following: San Antonio Archdiocese Hope for the Future - https://www.archsa.org/hope Central Catholic High School - https://www.cchs-satx.org/page St. Mary's University - https://alumni.stmarytx.edu/support/give-now/