RICHARD EDWARD SHERMAN

BRISTOL — Richard Edward Sherman, 89, passed away peacefully at home with family by his side on Nov. 23, 2024

Born at home in New Haven, Vt., on Maplewood Farm in October 1935, Richard maintained a deep connection to his dairy farming roots and loved to reminisce about the good old days by sharing stories about his younger years on the farm. Though the connection ran deep, one thing was for sure, he did not miss working the seven days a week required by dairy farmers.

Richie, as he was known in his younger years, participated in 4-H and was a member of the Jolly Rascals 4-H club, where he showed cattle at the Champlain Valley Fair, the Rutland State Fair and Eastern States Expo in Massachusetts. He was a member of FFA, the basketball team at Beeman Academy, was even prom king of his senior class, and more recently a member of the American Legion in Bristol.

Richard graduated from Beeman Academy’s, Class of 1953, and the Vermont School of Agriculture (VSA and later VTC) in Randolph in 1954. After graduating from VSA, he returned home to work on the family farm. In 1957, after an Ag deferment, he volunteered for the draft and completed his basic training at Fort Benning in Georgia. Assigned to Germany for the remainder of his tour, Richard was able to meet and spend time with an aunt, uncle, and their families from the Sherman side.

After his stint in the Army, again Richard returned home to work on the family farm until 1963, when he left to work as a Herdsman for John Heins in Williston and later for Conant’s Riverside Farms in Richmond. In 1969, he left dairy farming for good, moved his family to Bristol and attended Champlain College, graduating in 1972 with an associate’s degree in accounting. After pursuing a career in accounting, Richard retired from the A. Johnson Company in 1998.

A very social person, Richard had a big heart and was the first one to drop everything to help his family or a friend in need. He was the one that kept family connected and a few dubbed him their favorite uncle or cousin. An unofficial history buff, Richard could remember events down to the day and date it occurred. Sometimes we teased, “what day was that Richard, a Monday or a Tuesday?” In his spare time, he loved to be on his boat on Lake Champlain or traveling and camping with his wife Susan.

Richard leaves a daughter, Lisa; son-in-law, Rob; his grandchildren, Paige Wener and Kevin Booth of Sudbury and Ethan Wener of Starksboro; his great grandchild Ira Edward; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was predeceased by his wife of 34 years, Susan Simard Sherman; his parents, Edward and Martha Kandzior Sherman; his sisters, Trudy (Gertrude) Parkhill and, Nancy Daer; and his brothers, Arthur and Arnold Sherman.

Special thanks to all the nurses, staff and doctors at Addison County Home Health & Hospice, UVM Medical Center, the Bristol Rescue Squad and family and friends that supported us through this difficult time.

A celebration of Richard’s life is planned for late spring or early summer 2025. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Addison County Home Health and Hospice, PO Box 754, Middlebury, VT 05753 or online at www.achhh.org. ◊