Obituary

Robert Sherwood, 80

Posted

Former Lynbrook resident Robert Sherwood died peacefully in his home surrounded by family in the early morning of Oct. 29 in Gainesville, Fla. He was 80.
Sherwood was born on June 6, 1937, in Queens, to Edythe and Hamilton Sherwood. He graduated from Lynbrook High School in 1955 and attended the University of Florida on a basketball scholarship. He graduated in 1961 with a business degree. He was captain of the basketball team and was known by his fans as Bobby Sherwood. He was recently ranked as one of the top 100 players in University of Florida basketball history by the Gainesville Sun. In addition, he played baseball and was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity at the school.
He wed his wife, Nan Williams, in 1958, and the couple was married for 59 years after meeting in college. They welcomed four children into their home and set about teaching them the virtues of generosity, humor, loyalty and kindness; the joys of music, travel and sports; and the blessings of togetherness and family. They made homes in a variety of cities over the years: Philadelphia, Miami, Jacksonville, Fla., Lynbrook, Houston, Chicago, Milwaukee Wisc., Mission Viejo, Calif., and Tampa, Fla. Bob’s children remember him as a devoted, quick-witted, reliable, strong and generous father who encouraged them to pursue their interests and goals.
Sherwood worked for the Shell Oil Company for 35 years, eventually becoming vice president. Outside of work, one of his main hobbies was collecting, which he started at a young age. He put together several impressive collections over his lifetime, including baseball cards, sports memorabilia, coins, stamps, Civil War relics and antiques, and Historical American and Native American works of art and sculpture.
An avid reader of Civil War history, Sherwood amassed a vast collection of books, donating select volumes of his collection to the University of Florida Library. He was a true sports fan and one of his favorite pastimes was to attend sporting events with his wife and children. He took his family to see it all: Olympic Games, World Series, Super Bowls, Rose Bowls, NBA and NHL championships, U.S. Open golf, Indy 500 races and, most importantly, the Gators. Bob was a dedicated UF alumni and Bull Gator.
The family wishes to thank Landon Stone and Haven Hospice for their dedicated care and service. Sherwood’s funeral was Nov. 3 in Florida.
Memorial donations may be made to the Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease at the address: UF Foundation, PO Box 100243, Gainesville, FL 32610 (CTRND Fund #F017383 must be noted on the memo line). Please visit his memorial page at www.williamsthomasfuneralhome.com.