I first met Gene Rockwell Sherman, who to me will always be "Rocky," in second grade. And we've been friends ever since. Although we hadn't had much contact in the last few years. He became over time, more like a brother then a friend. I could write a book. But I'll try to keep it brief. He lived on Benvenue and I on Cuesta Drive. Basically around the corner give or take. Suffice it to say I have a bunch of memories of adventures we shared. Mutual friends, School, Stingray Bikes, plastic model kit customizing, Boy Scouts, camping, cars, riding motorcycles. Shop classes. Art classes, so many classes we shared, up and through high school graduation. He lost his immediate family Sister, Mom, and Dad in pretty much the span of a year boom, boom, boom. He was in his early 30s at the time, if I recall correctly. We were born 3 days apart at the same hospital. I was born after him. He would have been 71 on July 20, 2023. He will be missed. To quote Cpt. Jack Sparrow: " The world's not smaller mate, there's just less in it!" As we get older ain't that the truth! R.I.P. Rocky Sherman.
Gene's wife Elaine has decided not to have his obituary (whiten by her sister Patti David) printed in any publication. So I promised I'd post it here at least.
Gene Rockwell (Rocky) Sherman passed away at his home in West Richland, Washington on July 7, 2023.
Rocky was born on July 20, 1952 in Palo Alto, California to Rudolphine (Rudy) King Sherman and Robert (Bob) Middlekauf Sherman. He graduated from Los Altos High School in 1971 and attended Los Angeles Trade Tech College with a certification in motorcycle repair. His love was motorcycles and racing on Skyline Boulevard. In 1976 he traveled to Europe with friends who joined him in wearing old west outfits along the streets of London and Amsterdam, including fake pistols. Rocky especially enjoyed visiting Notre Dame while in Paris. Upon his return he began dating Eva Elaine Sherman and married her in Los Altos on December 4, 1976.
Rocky and Elaine had two sons, Daniel Vincent born in 1979 and James Alexander in 1981. Rocky embraced fatherhood wholeheartedly and was a Boy Scout leader, going to many summer camps with his sons. A great joy to him was creating haunted houses with his friends in their garages at first and then later at the Los Altos Community Center where he hosted each Halloween in full Frankenstein regalia. Later the family lived in Arizona and Kentucky before moving to eastern Washington where he retired.
Rocky was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Candace Clare. He is survived by his wife Elaine, sons Daniel of Minnesota and his children Eli and Hannah and Alex of West Richland and his daughter Eden (of Kentucky). Other survivors include nephew Chris and his daughter Clare, and numerous other relatives.
A celebration of life will be organized at a later date and an online tribute will be shared. Those wishing to send condolences may address them to elainesherm@gmail.com
Gary Welch
Gene and I shared several classes together and an interest in motorcycles.
It was good to get to know Gere at LAHS and kept in touch after graduation.
Gary Welch
Alan Eglington
I first met Gene Rockwell Sherman, who to me will always be "Rocky," in second grade. And we've been friends ever since. Although we hadn't had much contact in the last few years. He became over time, more like a brother then a friend. I could write a book. But I'll try to keep it brief. He lived on Benvenue and I on Cuesta Drive. Basically around the corner give or take. Suffice it to say I have a bunch of memories of adventures we shared. Mutual friends, School, Stingray Bikes, plastic model kit customizing, Boy Scouts, camping, cars, riding motorcycles. Shop classes. Art classes, so many classes we shared, up and through high school graduation. He lost his immediate family Sister, Mom, and Dad in pretty much the span of a year boom, boom, boom. He was in his early 30s at the time, if I recall correctly. We were born 3 days apart at the same hospital. I was born after him. He would have been 71 on July 20, 2023. He will be missed. To quote Cpt. Jack Sparrow: " The world's not smaller mate, there's just less in it!" As we get older ain't that the truth! R.I.P. Rocky Sherman.
Alan Eglington
Gene's wife Elaine has decided not to have his obituary (whiten by her sister Patti David) printed in any publication. So I promised I'd post it here at least.
Gene Rockwell (Rocky) Sherman passed away at his home in West Richland, Washington on July 7, 2023.
Rocky was born on July 20, 1952 in Palo Alto, California to Rudolphine (Rudy) King Sherman and Robert (Bob) Middlekauf Sherman. He graduated from Los Altos High School in 1971 and attended Los Angeles Trade Tech College with a certification in motorcycle repair. His love was motorcycles and racing on Skyline Boulevard. In 1976 he traveled to Europe with friends who joined him in wearing old west outfits along the streets of London and Amsterdam, including fake pistols. Rocky especially enjoyed visiting Notre Dame while in Paris. Upon his return he began dating Eva Elaine Sherman and married her in Los Altos on December 4, 1976.
Rocky and Elaine had two sons, Daniel Vincent born in 1979 and James Alexander in 1981. Rocky embraced fatherhood wholeheartedly and was a Boy Scout leader, going to many summer camps with his sons. A great joy to him was creating haunted houses with his friends in their garages at first and then later at the Los Altos Community Center where he hosted each Halloween in full Frankenstein regalia. Later the family lived in Arizona and Kentucky before moving to eastern Washington where he retired.
Rocky was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Candace Clare. He is survived by his wife Elaine, sons Daniel of Minnesota and his children Eli and Hannah and Alex of West Richland and his daughter Eden (of Kentucky). Other survivors include nephew Chris and his daughter Clare, and numerous other relatives.
A celebration of life will be organized at a later date and an online tribute will be shared. Those wishing to send condolences may address them to elainesherm@gmail.com