Dr. John Sheldon

1947 - 2026

Dr. John C. Sheldon of Frederick, Maryland died on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 after a brief illness at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. John was a long-time resident of Frederick and a faithful parishioner of St. Katherine Drexel Parish for twenty-six years. He was predeceased by his parents, Lloyd and Helen Sheldon of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

John was born on September 24,1947, in Wellsville, New York, with his family later settling in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. John was one of three sons and is survived by his brothers Robert Sheldon of Carlisle, Pennsylvania and Michael Sheldon of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He is also survived by his brother Robert's daughter, his beloved niece, Holly Weiss of Allentown, Pennsylvania.

John devoted his life to his cherished wife of 40 years, Karen J. Krask, and his three beloved children; Evan Matthew Sheldon of Maputo, Mozambique, Dylan Patrick Sheldon of Washington, D.C., and his only daughter, MaryRose Catherine Sheldon of Gaithersburg, Maryland. Fatherhood was John's true calling, and it was there he found his life's purpose.

John is also survived by his only grandchild, Liya Helen Sheldon, aged five, and Karen's siblings and their spouses and children. He leaves behind sister-in-law Dr. Elizabeth Tsakiris, her husband and brother-in-law George, and their children (his niece and nephew), Karena Tsakiris Asano and her husband, Taiyo Asano and their two young children and Elias Tsakiris, his nephew; his brother-in-law David J. Krask and his wife Lesley Navin; his brother-in-law Robert M. Krask and wife Kimberley and their children (his nephew and niece), Matthew Scott Krask and Julie Lauren Krask and her husband, Bruce Pffirmann, as well as John's youngest brother-in-law, Peter M. Krask of New York.

John graduated, along with both of his brothers, from Bishop McDevitt Catholic High School in Harrisburg. He attended and graduated from Harrisburg Community College, where he began his life-long love affair with the pursuit and passion of the profession and field of Education. His early commitment to education at the Community College level as a pathway to lifelong learning and educational access to all, remained with him his entire adult professional life, and even continued in his final difficult days at Hopkins, where young medical students independently sought out his advice and counsel.

John graduated from Edinboro University in Edinboro, Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in May, 1970. He then went on to study and remain at The Pennsylvania State University where he was invited to pursue advanced Master's work at the behest of Penn State and graduated in September, 1971 with a Master of Education and a Master of Counselor Education.

He began his Doctoral work through Penn State, but moved to Frederick in 1976 to begin a Guidance Counselor position at Frederick Community College. It was in this role where he met many lifetime friends and colleagues, including his friend, Jim Morrison and his then-boss, Rich Haney. It was also where he met his future bride, Karen, while teaching a Career Development course at the College. John obtained his Doctorate of Education and Counselor Education from Penn State in November, 1981 and was the first employee to do so at FCC, other than the many Presidents he served under. Also, for good measure, John pursued and achieved a Master of Arts in May of 1981 from Hood College in Frederick.

John spent his long and storied career at FCC in a variety of Administrative positions during the course of over 30 plus-years, including Associate Dean of Instruction from 1976 through 2004, serving as the Associate Vice President for Learning Support from 2004-2010 as well as the AVP for Learning Operations and Institutional Effectiveness. He maintained and served as an Adjunct Professor of Psychology during almost all of those years, teaching evening classes and eventually becoming the Associate Dean of Evening Programs,or as it was colloquially known: "The Dean of Darkness" to become the first full-time Administrator to oversee the growing Evening College operations at the College.

John became a full-time Professor of Psychology in July of 2011, and served in that capacity until his retirement on August 1, 2023. He savored every moment of his all-too short retirement, from taking long fitness walks and enjoying a second honeymoon trip with Karen to Aruba to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary, to savoring the freedom of each and every day his retirement provided. He especially enjoyed his regular lunches with his dear friend, Dr. Michael Powell.

Prior to their retirements, John and Karen moved from their 37 year family home in Eastview to adopt an empty-nester lifestyle and enjoy a maintenance- free life, on a quiet street in a development with actual streetlights. They cherished each and every year of raising their family among lifelong dear friends and neighbors in their former Eastview Community, including their next door neighbors Fred and Connie Wahl, the James Harris Drive and Sedwick Drive families of Ed and Peggy Dwyer, Jim and Kathy Moloney, Jack and Mary Ellen Demchalk and Norma and Bob Sacoman as well as the Spangler family.

Likewise, they have come to know, appreciate and enjoy their Judicial Way new friends and pool pals. It has been a special joy for both John and Karen to watch the new and young families raising their children here who bring joy and laughter and light and hope to the world.

Finally, the family would like to express their eternal gratitude for the incomparable care and compassion John received from Nurses Paul, David, Frank, Ireland, Faith and the many others whose names are not remembered, who rendered him comfort during his last and most difficult days.

The Sheldon Family will host a Remembrance with Friends on Thursday, March 26, 2026 from 4-7 p.m. at the Keeney and Basford Funeral Home at 106 East Church Street in Frederick, Maryland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 27, 2026 at St. Katherine Drexel Catholic Church at 8428 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD at 12 noon.

All are welcome to join us in a Celebration of John's Life gathering after the funeral at 5041 Judicial Way in the Westview South Clubhouse from 2:00-5:00 p.m.

A private family gathering of John's inurnment will take place at a later date at St. John's Cemetery. May he rest in peace. Amen Dr. John Sheldon