William Sherry (1947-2016)

William Sherry of Garrison died Dec. 15, 2016, in New York City after a seven-month battle with cancer.

Bill was born in 1947 in Jersey City, New Jersey, to John and Elizabeth (Driscoll) Sherry. He taught English at Copper Beech Middle School in Shrub Oak for 32 years. He enjoyed teaching young people and used humor to reach his students. His nieces and nephews can attest to his frequent corny jokes. He infused his own love of literature into his teaching and took pleasure in sharing the names of his favorite books with his friends. He relaxed by doing the New York Times crossword puzzle — in ink.

During summer breaks, Bill traveled around Europe. In Spain he met Salvador Dali, who gave him several autographed prints. Another highlight for Bill was “running with the bulls” in Pamplona, which he did twice.

Sports were an important part of Bill’s life. He was a basketball and a track and field star at St. Luke’s High School in Ho-ho-kus, New Jersey. He graduated from Pace University in Pleasantville in 1970, where he was a three-year starter on the varsity men’s basketball team and co-captain his senior year. Bill also ran in 10 marathons.

In 1978 Bill turned his passion for running into a business and co-founded Super Race Systems, a race-timing company. Bill prized the friendships that developed all over the country with fellow timers, event organizers, volunteers and participants. He took great pride in the fact that through race timing, he helped raise funds for many charities. In 2005 he was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel for his contributions in that state. Bill received special recognition from the NYSP Trooper Foundation for his annual support since 1978.

Bill loved the game of golf, both as a competitor and a fan. He treasured his invitation to the Masters and went to Augusta 21 times. Bill started playing golf as a child at the Ramsey Golf & Country Club in New Jersey. He played on the golf team at Pace and continued playing competitive golf his entire life. He played in both the British Amateur championship and the U.S. Mid-Amateur championship. Some of his local achievements include 1990 club champion at Southern Dutchess Country Club, 2000 club champion at Dutchess Golf and Country Club, 2003 Hudson River Golf Association champion, 2009 Eastern Seniors Golf Association champion, and 2012 Westchester Seniors Golf Association champion.

He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Gail; his sisters Alice Hayes (Frank Ruth) of Ridgefield, Connecticut, and Elizabeth Flynn of Hancock, Michigan; his brother John Sherry (Celeste) of West Nyack; and three nieces.

Memorial donations may be made to the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement at Graymoor (atonementfriars.org) or Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (mskcc.convio.net/goto/WilliamSherry).