Roger Davis Sherman

UntitledROGER DAVIS SHERMAN, M.D., CAPT. USNR (RET.)
1915-2009

Roger Davis Sherman, M.D., Capt. USNR (Ret.), died peacefully in his sleep on May 15, 2009. He was 93.
Dr. Sherman was born on September 7, 1915 to Roger and Elizabeth Davis Sherman in Carbondale, PA. When he was 5 his family moved to the Village of Briarcliff Manor, Westchester County, NY. Briarcliff was then and is now an intimate, semi-rural settlement where Roger and his brothers, Jesse and James, grew and thrived. Young Roger excelled in academics and sports (swimming and football) at Briarcliff Manor High School and later at Union College, Schenectady, New York, where he was a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity.
After graduating from college, Dr. Sherman received his medical degree from New York Medical College in New York City in June of 1940. He completed a residency in internal medicine at Flower & Fifth Avenue Hospital, where he met and married Helen Morgan, then a staff dietitian.
When World War II intervened, Dr. Sherman joined the United States Navy and served the duration as medical officer aboard the USS Keokuk, a minesweeper, in the Mediterranean Sea. After the war the Shermans were stationed at NAS Pensacola. By this time the family had added a son and a daughter. After a brief stay in Pensacola, Dr. Sherman was transferred to Philadelphia, PA, where he underwent psychiatric training and a psychiatric residency at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital. He became Board Certified in Psychiatry and Neurology. By this time another daughter was added to the family.
Upon completion of his psychiatric residency, Dr. Sherman was again stationed in Pensacola, where he spent most of his tour of duty with the School of Aviation Medicine. While he was still in the Navy, it developed that Dr. Sherman was the only practicing psychiatrist between New Orleans, LA and Jacksonville, FL. Under the circumstances the Navy allowed him to render services to area civilians in addition to his duties with the Navy. He resigned from the Navy so that he could remain in Pensacola, and joined the Navy Reserve, from which he retired with the rank of Captain.
Dr. Sherman treated and helped many patients during his long tenure in Pensacola. He was a member of local and state medical societies and a Fellow of the National Psychiatric Association. Notwithstanding his large and active professional practice, he was an active and avid hobbyist and environmentalist, as well. These avocations were undertaken in more or less serial fashion with the single-minded devotion and determination that were his trademarks: gardening ("it is best to weed during a drenching downpour, the better to extract the weeds"); golf ("swinging a 50 inch piece of re-bar with a grip of duct tape develops a strong golf swing"); hiking ("let's walk the length of Santa Rosa Island in the sand to break in our new boots for our trek in the Rockies"); canoeing ("upstream is a greater challenge"). He was an active member of the Sierra Club and Audubon Society, serving in state and local leadership roles.
In later years Dr. Sherman's activity level waned and he devoted more and more time to his most enduring interests--- reading, travel and music. He always had season tickets to the Pensacola Symphony and particularly enjoyed the "Music at Christ Church" performances sponsored by Christ Episcopal Church.
Dr. Sherman was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers and his wife. He is survived by his son Roger Morgan Sherman (CJ); daughters Laurie Elizabeth Sherman (Thomas Thiele) and Alice Sherman Patterson; grandsons Roger VanCortlandt Sherman (Monica) and Michael Davis Patterson (Nina); granddaughters Alice Elizabeth Hainsworth ( William) and Emily Bradford Wohlleber (Edward); great-granddaughter Cortney Sherman; great-grandsons Andrew and Brent Sawyer, Edward Wohlleber and Roger Davis Sherman.
The family gives special thanks to Sarah, Al, Jeanne, and Todd, who assisted Dr. Sherman for ten years at Homestead Village. Our utmost thanks to Sallie McCorvey, Dr. Sherman's personal caretaker, who offered our Papa the deepest human comfort and love possible in his dying days. In addition we thank the many friends, neighbors, Christ Church members, Pine Forest High School colleagues, and Covenant Hospice for their calls, cards, and condolences.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Music at Christ Church, the Pensacola Symphony, Covenant Hospice, or to an organization of one's choice.
Dr. Sherman's ashes will be placed next to those of his wife at Barrancas National Cemetery following a family ceremony on June 5, 2009. Arrangements are by Oak Lawn Funeral Home.