Roger L. Sherman

HODGDON -Roger L. Sherman, Former State Representative and Senator, second child of Floyd & Virginia (Longfellow) Sherman, of Hodgdon, passed away on July 14, 2024. Roger was born on October 7, 1940 in Hodgdon into a loving family, the son of a farmer and a school teacher. The second of four children Richard (Joan) Sherman, David (Cathy Manuel) Sherman and Bettie (Robert) Colosimo. Roger married the love of his life Patricia A. (Folsom) second child of Paul and Lucy Folsom, of Houlton. They were married on May 5th 1961 and spent 63 years of marriage happily dedicated to one another and their family. Four children were born from this union, the siblings are presented in order of appearance, as we all know the baby girl was the favorite: Brad (Brenda Bourtelle), Gregory (Angela Tidd), and Eric (Amy Antonio) and Michelle (Phil Sprague). Roger was preceded into the presence of God's glory by his son Eric, parents Floyd and Virginia and brothers Richard and David. He is survived by his loving wife Patricia and remaining children and his sister Bettie Colosimo, and family, of Grafton Ohio. The grand children to Roger and Patricia are from Brad; Dawn (Woo) Negan (2 Great Grandchildren), Benjamin (Jenni) Sherman (2 great grandchildren), Betty Carbee, Joe Carbee from Greg: Tyler, Hannah, Nicholas, Alexander, Logan, from Eric; Ethan, Adam, Emily and from Michelle; and the light in Dad's life at the end Lucy and Elly. Lest we forget a large portion of our family, Mom's 12 siblings and significant others who have in one way or another supported her or her them.
Roger began life working hard on the farm and recalled to us of being responsible for feeding the cows at the age of five. He was a voracious reader and consumed any book that he could get his hands on, straining his eyes by candlelight to read late into the evening or any spare time he had. He graduated from Hodgdon High School as Salutatorian and went on to attend the University of Maine at Orono. He left because he said he enjoyed school a little too much, but like any great success story rebounded and graduated from Ricker College with a degree in mathematics. He went on to attend and graduate from the University of Maine School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree. He then went on to pass the Maine Bar Examination on his first attempt and then entered into the practice of law for two years before he decided to take his life in another direction. Following the example set by his mother, he chose a path of service to others and became a schoolteacher and continued his education by working for and receiving a master's degree in chemistry from the University of New Hampshire. He began his teaching career at Woodland High School in Baileyville for one year and the Danforth School system for a year before working twenty-eight years at Hodgdon High School. A portion of those years teaching were spent alongside his mother whom he adored. He taught chemistry, business math, and law. Always trying to make a subject relevant he often took his students from the law class to the County Court House to watch the law in action, by observing actual trials and court cases being adjudicated.
While at Hodgdon High he coached elementary boys' basketball before taking the high school girls basketball position which he coached for 13 years. His girls' teams had great success winning two Gold Balls in Class C, a state runner-up with multiple runner-ups in Eastern Maine. However, it wasn't the winning that he enjoyed, it was the teaching and comradery. We can't neglect the mascot for a few of those teams which was not the Hawk, but instead was the one they adopted "Grover". The kids he coached and taught had a huge impact on him and generated memories and friendships he always cherished.
After retiring from teaching in 1998, he decided he would try for a fourth career, lawyer, teacher and farmer and now a politician. That fall he was elected to the Maine House of Representatives and served as both a Representative and State Senator until 2018 before deciding to really retire again. He measured his success in Augusta not based on the number of bills passed (He had some great ones) but helping his constituents parse through the administrative minutia and bureaucratic roadblocks to help solve the issues of the people he served. He enjoyed those early years in politics, always trying to find common ground, but never relinquishing the standards and morals which he lived his life by. He always fought for what he believed was right and was congenial to those with opposing views.
Roger served as a member of the Houlton Rotary, Maine Teachers Association, was the National Education Association Maine Director and a member of the Maine Retired teachers, just to name a few. One last item for all who read this, Roger loved Baxter State Park and Mount Katahdin and like many in Maine climbed to the peak numerous times. In his younger years, he took full advantage of this gift to Mainers when he worked summers at Great Northern Paper while attending college. He would encourage each reader to do the same.
Finally, Roger always regarded his time at Ricker College as being transformative for him. With his love of Ricker was his admiration of those who fought to recapture the remaining funds of the now defunct Ricker College and those funds being allotted to the Ricker Endowment Fund to benefit the education of Aroostook County students by providing college scholarships. The family would ask that in lieu of flowers or other donations that you consider contributions to the Ricker Endowment Fund in his name to benefit the future of students' education opportunities in Aroostook County. Every dollar counts and benefits aspiring students in Aroostook County. c/o Ricker College Trustees Houlton, Maine 04730. Friends may call on Friday July 19 at 12-2 pm at the Houlton Wesleyan church where a funeral service will be held at 2 pm with the Rev. Robert Wayne officiating. Interment will be held at the Hodgdon Cemetery. To share memories and condolences please visit www.bowersfuneral.com