Robert Hugh Sherratt

About

Mission High School

Robert Sherratt Obituary

Robert Hugh Sherratt Died July 30th at Marin General Hospital. He was born in 1926 to Harry and Martha Bell Sherratt in Victoria, B.C. He was a proud graduate of Mission High School and attended San Francisco City College. He served on the USS Navy ship The "Sullivans" during World War II. He was a heroic and dedicated member of the San Francisco Fire Department for 31 years and retired as division chief. He was loved by the rank and file of the department and widely respected for his integrity, honesty and devotion to his closely knit family of fellow firefighters. He was a man of strong convictions and opinions. He rooted for the underdog, the working man, labor unions, the Giants and the 49ers, civil rights, and women's rights. He had hoped to "live long enough to see that SOB out of the White House!" He loved his family and friends, the Roosevelt Tamale Parlor, the St. Francis Creamery, a Victoria Pastry chocolate éclair, The Three Tenors, fine wine, political dissent, an occasional hot dog, and a great party. He didn't have a cheap bone in his body; he was generous to a fault and at the risk of his own children being hungry and shoeless; he was a notoriously large tipper. We will all miss him. Bob had the natural gift of a fine singing voice. He was truly the captain of the College of Marin's 1975 production H.M.S. Pinafore. His sweet voice, when singing a hymn, could dampen the eye of the ladies in church. At age 60, on his doctors' prescription, he took up golf, gathering new friends and three hole-in-one trophies at the Meadow Club. He is survived by his wife Jessie; children, Martha, Todd and Bill; brother and best friend, Jack; sister, Margo Block; sister-in-law, Diana; brother-in-law, Kenneth; daughter-in-law, Stephanie; and his two steadfast friends Richard Paganelli and Raymond O'Leary. Private family services were held.

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Aug. 6 to Aug. 7, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for Robert Sherratt

13 Entries

Annie Shane

August 12, 2006

Dear Aunt Jessie,

I'm so sorry you lost my uncle Bob. Some of my best childhood memories were of my dad and Bob croonin'. They did some harmony! They're both taking that sentimental journey now, and I'll never forget him. What a great, kind, generous and loving, good looking man he was. It was so smart of you to marry that fireman!

Ray Batz

August 11, 2006

In my 30 years in the SFFD I found Bob Sherratt to be one of the finest of leaders at the scene of any emergency. In addition, he was always, accent on always, a gentleman of the old school. Chief Sherratt was a fireman's fireman, and I will always remember him that way.

Tony (Nin) Sacco

August 11, 2006

Martha, my condolences.

I first met Bob at Hoarce Mann Junior High School in the ninth grade in 1941. We gradusted and went on to Mission High School in Sept. 1941. We graduated in June 1944. We both went into the military after graduation. After the war we met again at City College of San Francisco. It was during this time we took and passed the exam for the San Francisco Fire Dept. I waived my appointment. The Korean war was in full swing and I went into the Merchant Marine for two years. It was in Oct. of 1953 when I met Len Karp and he told me lift my waiver and come into the fire dept. He said all my friends were akready in, Bob Sherratt, Dick Paganelli, Bob Coyle, Jim Rossback and others. I lifted my waiver and Bob welcomend me into the dept. We seemed to have parallel lives.

The newspaper article memtioned the St, Francis Creamery and the Roosevlth Tamale Parlor. Was what were left out were, Pop's Cub. The Green Lantern, and Pete's Club. These were also our "hangouts". One by one we all celebrated our 21st. birthday at Pop's club. The owner, Jack O'Connor would say, "what so you mean this is your 21st. birthday, you guys have been drinking here for years". That was the 24th St. of Bob's era

Bob went on to have a great career in the fire dept. He never backed down to anyone. One of the highlights was a meeting in the office of the Chief of Dept. It developed into such a shouting match that all the clerks left the office. I think he won that match. Bob was always a strong supporter of Local 798. He was a motivator to get the new firefighter involved in the union and their future benefits.

I will close with my remembrance of Bob and the Pinafore Light Operetta at Mission High Sahool. He had a leading role and we were all in the chorus. We had a great time, but we drove the teacher crazy. She liked Bob's talents so she put up with us. Even today, when I hear the Pinafore, I think of Bob and the great times we had at Mission High in 1941/44. Bob was an all around great guy, a true friend.

Scott Sherratt

August 10, 2006

Uncle Bob was a wonderful uncle and I will miss him. I have fond memories of him from my childhood, from my teen years as "The Captain of the HMS Pinnafore" and as an adult ... his wonderful voice singing "How Great Thou Art" at Nancy & my wedding. Uncle Bob always had a big hug and his signature "wet Sherratt kiss on the cheek" for me. I always enjoyed going to visit him & Aunt Jessie at that great house at 44 Legend with the incredible backyard full of cousins. Nancy and I have enjoyed the shortbread recipe that he shared with us and have been making it every year on Christmas Eve with our daughters. We will remember Uncle Bob as we make it in years to come. He was a great brother and friend to my Dad, and they would tie up the phone for hours solving the world's problems. It was good to see him this past spring, and wish we could have visited longer. He will be missed.

Ron Morehen

August 10, 2006

Bob was a firemen's fireman.

The SFFD could use a 100 more men like Bob Sherratt.

He will be missed.

Tom Smail

August 10, 2006

Dear Mrs. Sherratt,

I wish to extend my sincere condolence and sympathy to you and

your family on the passing of Bob.

We seldom worked in the same watch together but when we did, I always considered it to be a successful day for me. The world was a better place for his having been here.

JAMES SCOTT

August 9, 2006

MRS SHERATT,

I DROVE BOB ON OCCASION WHEN DETAILED TO HIS BUGGY. HE WAS A GENTLE MAN WHO KNEW HIS BUSINESS AND WAS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE AROUND. I MISS THE DEPT. AND I MISS MEN LIKE BOB

JIM SCOTT OPERATOR (RET)

Wendy Lee Rook

August 8, 2006

Dear Aunt Jessie and Martha: I've just heard the sad news, but only sad for a moment because there are so many good memories. One of my most vivid childhood memories is of Uncle Bob singing Shine on Harvest Moon one evening just for me at the Oxford Street house. He was a sweet, wise man. Love to you --Cousin Wendy

DON WALSH

August 7, 2006

DEAR MRS SHERRATT,MY CONDOLENCES:

I HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO HAVE WORKED WITH BOB WHILE HE WAS A CAPTAIN AT STATION 3 IN THE LATE 60S, ,HE WAS AN INSPIRATION TO ANY YOUNG FIREFIGHTER, AGRESSIVE AT FIRES BUT TEMPERED WITH CAUTION , A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR , HE HAD THE RESPECT OF MEN WHO HAD THE LUCK TO HAVE WORKED WITH HIM

Roland Lee

August 7, 2006

I met Chief Sherratt in 1974 when I first entered the Fire Dept. He impressed me as being a more than fair person with the way he treated all new PROBIE's and member's he came in contact with. I observed him going more than the extra mile. His good eye contact and smile also impressed me.

He will be surely missed by all.

With regrets

Les Terry

August 6, 2006

Dear Mrs. Sherratt,

My condolences. My SFFD experiences with Bob were always electric. He would always remind me, "we're all in this together".

George

August 6, 2006

There was no such thing as a 3 minute chat with Bob. Once engaged in chat, 30 or more minutes would fly by and one of us would be late for something. Micki and I would like to extend our most sincere condolences to Jessie, Martha, Todd and Bill, our neighbors and friends for over 20 years.

George Alboff

Martin Mitchell

August 6, 2006

Martha,

My deepest sympathy at this time.

Born in the same year, your father and my mother appeared to have been cut from the same cloth, in many ways.

Perhaps you may find it encouraging that my mother still sends signs that she is present and among us, although on a different plane, six years after her passing.

Best Regards,

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