Obituary of Laurence J. Sherman

Obituary Notice for Laurence J. Sherman, Jr. - Memorial Service Saturday, December 2, 2017 Laurence J. Sherman, 88, of Huntington Woods, Michigan, passed away peacefully early on October 19th after a yearlong battle with cancer. His family and friends kept a vigil with visits and phone calls during his week in Hospice care until he passed away. He will be remembered as a good man with a big smile, warm laugh, and a great sense of humor, devoted to his family and friends. Born September 3, 1929 in Syracuse, NY to Larry Sr., a mason contractor, and Lucy Ireland, Larry is survived by his loving wife of 55 years Janet, daughters Susie Sherman-Hall (George Hall) and Lisa Sherman (Tony England), three nieces, a nephew, 2 great-nieces, and 3 great nephews, as well as 5 grand-dogs. Earning a BA in Marketing from Syracuse University in 1954 and later an MBA from University of Detroit in 1966, Larry pursued a career in finance and marketing combining his love for automobiles. Larry married Janet Sugg in 1962. He spent 38 years in the auto industry almost equally divided between Chrysler, American Motors and finally Audi of America where he retired in 1992 as Controller (Chief Financial Officer.) As a boy, Larry was a soapbox derby champion at age 11. Always keeping busy, as a young man he had a paper route, built model airplanes and worked for his father, building houses in the Syracuse area. Interested in the mechanics of how things worked, he tinkered with trains and made model airplanes. His interest in airplanes and his skills with designing models won him a contest for flight lessons at age 16, when he had his first solo flight. An avid weekend sportsman, Larry was an accomplished instrument rated small plane pilot, and regional race car driver. After rolling a Porsche at one race, Janet suggested he choose one of his hobbies, so he gave up racing and focused on his love for flight; something he had shared with his father and his mother, both who had piloted small planes. Larry owned or co-owned an Ercoupe and later a 6 seat Bonanza which he flew out of Detroit City Airport. Taking short trips around the Midwest including Mackinac Island, Indianapolis for the Indy 500, he often took day trips for lunch to Romeo or to visit his daughters when they were in college. He and Janet were also avid tennis players. After retiring, he and Janet spent most of their time each summer at the cabin his mother built on Sharbot Lake, Ontario, Canada in the 1960s and part of each winter in their favorite get-away, New Smyrna Beach, Florida. In the community Larry served on the Board of Trustees at Birmingham Unitarian Church, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; supporting programs including the South Oakland Shelter. He also served on the Advisory Board for the Center for New Thinking with the late Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine. In 2014, Larry and Janet sold their long time residence in Huntington Woods and downsized to Fox Run in Novi, Michigan. They missed Huntington Woods but loved their new neighbors and friends at Fox Run. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 2nd, 11:30 a.m. at Birmingham Unitarian Church, 38651 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, MI. 48304 Luncheon reception following. The family requests that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to one of the following charities in his memory: Michigan Humane Society, The Salvation Army or American Cancer Society.