William Lawrence SHERMAN

1922 - 2017

SHERMAN, William Lawrence Delray Beach, FL - William (Bill) Lawrence Sherman, 95, an American Patriot, died of natural causes at his home in Delray Beach, FL on Thursday, October 19, 2017. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Adlyn Foster Sherman, their four children, Lynda Sherman-Strand of Carmel, CA, William L. Sherman Jr. of Las Vegas, NV, James M. Sherman of Boynton Beach, FL and John P. Sherman of Rye, NY, seven grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, and his only sister Ellen Van Auken who resides in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Born July 28, 1922 in Utica, NY, son of Ernest Alexander and Margaret McMahon Sherman, Bill was raised in New Hartford, Utica, NY. He attended New Hartford High School where he met his future wife and was the first high school student to enlist in the Navy V-12 program, a forerunner of ROTC. July 1, 1943 he was called to duty and attended The Naval War College in Newport, R.I. then went on to Mare Island, California. In 1944 he married his high school sweetheart in San Francisco before boarding Amphibious Group Command ships USS Eldorado, USS Panamint, and USS Mt. McKinley. He was appointed to the staff of Admiral Lawrence Reifsnider who was the commander of the Amphibious Group Four Command. He was on the Admiral's staff on board the Flagship USS Panamint for the entire battle of Okinawa commencing Easter Sunday, April 1st 1945. For a short time he was with the war correspondent Ernie Pyle, of whom he had fond memories. When World War II ended, Bill and his wife Adlyn moved back to New York where he attended college at St. Lawrence University and graduated in 1947. He was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) Fraternity. Upon graduation he returned to Utica, NY and entered the insurance business. He was very active in local civic affairs serving as President of the Utica Life Underwriters and Chairman of the Utica Chapter American Red Cross. While serving as chairman, he was instrumental in establishing the Red Cross Blood Donation Program. The Shermans moved to Philadelphia in 1953 then to Baltimore, Maryland for 38 years. Bill was the Senior Economic Development Officer reporting directly to the Governor for the State of Maryland. He also served his community as President of the Oriole Advocates, Inc. and Secretary of Oriole Advocates Charitable Foundation. He was a visionary and organizer for the preservation of the Babe Ruth birthplace next to Camden Yards, Baltimore and lector for 20 years at St. Pius Church in Baltimore. After Bill's retirement in 1998, the Shermans moved to Delray Beach, Florida. There, Bill served as a life member of the VFW of Delray Beach and member of St. Vincent Ferrer Church. Born to a great line of American Patriots, Bill's Great, Great Grandfather Amos Plumb Sherman served on the Massachusetts Line during the Revolutionary War when he was 19 yrs old. In 1812, when he was 53 yrs of age, he reenlisted and served during The War of 1812. Bill's Great Grandfather Nathan P. Sherman was born to Amos Plumb and Patience Sherman in 1819. He served in the War of Rebellion (Civil War) and fought at Gettysburg on July 2-3rd 1863 representing the Vermont Volunteers Company E, 14th Regiment where he was wounded during Pickett's Charge on July 3rd, 1863. A memorial service will be held at St. Vincent Ferrer Church, George Bush Blvd, Delray Beach, FL on Monday, October 23rd at 11:00am. A reception will follow the service at Barr Terrace, 50 East Rd. Delray Beach, FL. 2nd floor reception room. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Wounded Warriors and/or The American Legion.