George A. Sherman

 

"George Anthony Sherman of Silver Cliff Ranch died last Thursday afternoon, Sept. 27, 2001.  He was 65."  So began his obituary in the "Wet Mountain Tribune," a Rocky Mountain rural weekly. 

 

Silver Cliff, approximately 75 miles southwest of Colorado Springs, was George's Shangri-La.  He moved there with his family four years ago from the Washington, D.C suburbs (Maryland side).  Thanks to the internet, phones, and fax, he never missed a beat publishing his LTCI industry newsletter and alerts.

 

Steve Moses talked to George on the day he died.  As they concluded the call, he said he was going out to ride his mountain bike.  Passers-by found his body beside the bike in a ditch along a mountain road.  Sherm evidently fell and broke a rib, which punctured his one remaining lung.  Although never a smoker, he lost the other lung to cancer many years ago.  An autopsy concluded that the cause of death was "blunt force" incidental to the fall from the bicycle. 

 

George was born May 11, 1936 in Long Beach, California.  He attended St. John's Seminary in California, the Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles, Temple University in Philadelphia and George Washington University in Washington, DC, where he received a Ph.D. in History. 

 

After leaving the priesthood, George's work history took him from the Pennsylvania Department of Aging to the National Center for Black Aging, and on to the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, LTC Incorporated, GE's Long-Term Care Insurance Division, the Larson Long-Term Care Group and finally to the Corporation for Long-Term Care Certification.  For the past 11 years, he was the editor of LTC News and Comment, a highly respected LTCI industry newsletter.  Most people especially loved his "LTC E-Alerts," frequent nuggets of news and analysis covering every ripple and wave in the business of long-term care.

 

According to the "Tribune" article:  "During his time here, he served on the board of directors of the Custer County Hospital District which oversees the community clinic.  He also was a popular guest chef at the Morgan's Restaurant in Westcliffe.  Additionally, he was an avid bicyclist and listener of classical music."

 

On Sunday evening, October 7, friends and relatives gathered for a "celebration of George's life" at Morgan's Restaurant in Westcliffe, Co.  Five of George's former colleagues attended.  Over a hundred of his new Colorado friends came to share their "Sherm stories" and to reminisce.  You get a good flavor of what those stories were like by reading the ones that follow below.

 

George is survived by his wife, Helen (married January 1, 1968) and his daughter, Laurel, a student at the University of Southern Colorado, Pueblo.  Their address is:  297 Excelsior Rd., Silver Cliff, CO, 81252. 

 

Anyone wishing to make a memorial contribution may send it to the Custer County Community Clinic, P.O. Box 120 in Westcliffe, CO, 81252.

 

 

 

Tributes to Dr. George Sherman from

His Colleagues and Friends in the Long-Term Care Profession

 

 

Phyllis Shelton: 

 

"Sherm here."

 

The cryptic introduction of Dr. George Sherman's presence on the other side of the phone wire.  At first I thought him unfriendly.  I grew to learn that he just didn't believe in wasting time.  He only called if he had something relevant to say concerning our small world of long-term care insurance.  He didn't linger in the conversation after the message had been delivered.  Occasionally I found myself staring into an empty telephone after an abrupt farewell.

 

In typical Sherm fashion, he made an abrupt exit at 1:30 Mountain Time on September 27^th… .

 

Over the past several years, we traded (short) comments back and forth concerning his newsletter, LTC News & Comment, which I advocate to anyone serious about LTC insurance as a "must-have" for the main source of ongoing information about LTCI.  Mutual respect for each other grew as I asked questions, challenged thoughts and added an occasional article.  Gradually our conversations lengthened as we began to understand each other.

 

On one occasion, I drove almost four hours from a training class I had in Greeley, Colorado to visit him in … Silver Cliff, Colorado at his insistence.  Upon arrival, I saw why the invitation had been so constant.  His unique adobe house, self-designed and built, is nestled in the foothills an hour and a half southwest of Colorado Springs and is surrounded by an almost ethereal beauty, which he managed to capture in an amazing fashion, through the lens of his camera.  His genius for composition in photography peeked out of several store windows in the form of cards for sale in the tiny town nearby.

 

My rapt appreciation for his photography has since resulted in a "George Sherman gallery" in my office of eight double-matted and framed landscapes and one great elk.

 

I'm telling you all this to show you there were many layers underneath what many only knew as the most proliferous mouthpiece of almost daily news on LTC insurance in the form of "LTC-Alerts" that flooded our email boxes.  His heart for his job was so dedicated to be sure we didn't miss anything at all, but that was only one part of the wonderful human being that was George Sherman.  Opinionated?  Yes.  Smart?  He had a Ph.D. and that vocabulary!  Loyal?  No one could touch him on this.  Caring?  The part hardest to see over the internet, and the part I am expressing to you now.  He cared deeply for our industry, his wife Helen and 24-year-old daughter, Laurel, his beautiful surroundings, but mostly, he cared for life.  And life will miss him.

 

Patty Ash:  I will miss seeing George's classic signature, "Tanks."

 

Caren Litt:  For years I subscribed to George's newsletter and know of his brilliance. … The industry has lost a warrior.

 

Dave Donchey, CLU, Director, LTCI Sales, Leisure Werden & Terry:   What a great guy.... He was…smart and incisive.

 

Howard S. Drescher, APR, Public Relations Director, LIMRA International:  I only came to know George recently, and that only by phone and email.  I had invited him to attend  the LIMRA Long-Term Care conference in Chicago and we had a couple of delightful phone conversations.  We were very much looking forward to meeting but our conference was postponed.  I'm very sorry that I will not have that chance now.

 

Ann Davis, Reporter, Wall Street Journal:  I'm very sorry to hear this.

 

Doug Ullrich, Arizona Department of Insurance:  I've been reading LTC News and Comment for several years now and thought it was an excellent publication.  I talked to Dr. Sherman a couple of years ago when I called him to ask for permission to photocopy an article from the newsletter when I was making a presentation about LTC insurance to a LTC task force at the Arizona Legislature.  In August, I met George at the Private LTC Insurance Conference in Miami.  I searched him out when I saw the booth and his colleagues told me to look for the "skinny guy with the hat, t-shirt, shorts and hiking boots."  When I met him my first thought was "THIS is Dr. George Sherman, the guy with the Ph.D.?"  Later, he and I happened to cross paths at the jacuzzi.  We had quite a nice chat about our common interests in the mountains of Colorado and the deserts of Arizona.  I found it fascinating that he could live on the side of a mountain ("in the middle of nowhere" as he put it), in Colorado and still be completely up-to-date on the latest news around the country.  George was the ultimate "telecommuter!"  Your description of his "unusual, often penetrating, sometimes off-the-wall question or comment" is right on the money.  George is someone who truly understood the issues of LTC and didn't mind sharing his opinion, even if it might offend someone.  In fact, perhaps he tried to offend at times, just to get people to think about his point of view on an issue or subject.  The industry has lost a friend.  I too, will miss him.

 

Eric Jackson, Senior Agent, GE Financial Assurance:  Well, you found the perfect word [scrapper].  I remember George fondly and I know how much he has done for Long Term Care.  I have followed his bullets from the beginning and was even asked to write one or two short articles regarding Alabama LTC over the years.

 

Jim Hostetler, Executive Editor, Health Insurance Underwriter magazine, National Association of Health Underwriters:  Several weeks ago [George] agreed to contribute a by-lined article to our association's magazine.  I was going to follow-up next week to request a year-in-review theme for our December issue. …   He will be missed.  Very few had a firm handle on both the details and the "big picture" as he.

 

David N. Kane, GE Financial Assurance:  …A straight shooter if there ever was one….  Yeah, the memories of him standing up at some meeting at a mike and asking the question to the (unsuspecting) speaker, perhaps a government spokesperson, with the thinly veiled tag line barely left unspoken (...you fool...).

 

Norm Kono, AEGON USA:  I had just e-mailed Sherm yesterday to thank him for sending me an abstract the day before that he thought I'd be interested in.  …  Who's going to make me look and sound like an LTC expert now that the doctor is gone?

 

Linda Koco, Senior Editor, National Underwriter Life & Health/Financial Services:  I met George only once, but was immediately struck by his enthusiasm, warmth, broad LTC knowledge, and eagerness to continue promoting the LTC story.  He was all smiles and laughter, his head nodding up and down and sparks twinkling in his eyes.  We chatted for quite a while, as he told me of his newsletter and his more recent activities--and also of what he was planning for and hoping for in the future.  It is hard to imagine the LTC industry without this bright light and advocate.  He will be sorely missed.

 

Lane Kent, New York Life:  I did not know George personally but know his work.  He will be missed.

 

Marilyn Mulhall, LUTCF, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network:  While I did not know Dr. Sherman, I was extremely impressed by his knowledge and grasp of the LTC issue and marketplace.  I hope someone will endeavor to fill the void his passing has left.  We really needed him. 

 

Mary Beth Franklin, Editor, Kiplinger's:  I spoke to George many times over the years. He was always insightful and articulate.  He will be missed….

 

Mary Liden :  George was such a great resource, and did so much to elevate the level of awareness regarding Long Term Care issues in Washington.  He will be missed.

 

Nancy Allegrini:  George and I exchanged brief personal email from time to time.  I enjoyed his comments and what he wrote.  He had a great dry sense of humor.

 

Pam Doty, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, DHHS:  I liked George very much.  It's been quite a long time since I had any face to face interaction with him, but we did exchange emails about assisted living just within the past few months.  I don't know that I have any funny stories to share, but you can certainly count me as one of the people who will miss him.

 

Peter M. LanFranca:  I met George in Chicago at the HIAA convention.  I liked him immediately and have been an admirer of his over the years.  He had a sense of kindness about him and was truly an advocate of "Long Term Care."  I will miss his good work and gentle smile!

 

Sam Kaplan:  Sherm and I talked and argued 3 or 4 times a month….  We've all lost a really good one.

 

Scott Parkin:  A few weeks ago at the Private Long Term Care Insurance Conference in Miami, I caught up with George in the exhibit hall.  We spoke about Colorado and what it was like living miles from nowhere and how he managed to stay informed (it was the internet).  He regaled me with descriptions of the clear, mountain air and how he could always see stars from his home in the mountains.  I always envied him the ability to live miles from nowhere and still be a presence in our field.  He will be missed.

 

Marilyn Serafini, Reporter, National Journal:  Even though I haven't spoken to him in several years, I never forget the handful of people who patiently take the time to educate me on a good cause along the way.  George was one of those people.  He always took the time to help.  Indeed, it's people like George who remind me to patiently help others.

 

Spencer Lehmann, Lehmann Woods:  I did know George, liked and respected him.  He was a gentleman and published a well-written and fairly balanced newsletter. … George touched a lot of people, most particularly with his sense of humor, and his sense of "fair play."  I will always remember him fondly.

 

Joshua Wiener, The Urban Institute:  George and I rarely agreed on things, but he was always fun and interested in getting to the bottom of an issue.  He never viewed me as the enemy.  I am shocked and saddened by his untimely death. 

 

Bill Comfort:  I've read much of what "Shem" has written in the last couple of years and am a better LTC professional for it.  I'm sorry I never met him personally, but understand what a great advocate we have lost.

 

Judy Lococo, CLU:  Although I never had the privilege of meeting him, I found LTC News & Comment an extremely important resource and was a subscriber from the early 1990s.  The newsletter and his email alerts have provided me with a sense of comfort that nothing important concerning LTC was going to sneak up behind me.  I have appreciated his courage in confronting the questionable tactics of advisors working for the "quick MediCal" answers. 

 

Honey Leveen, LUTCF, CLTC:  I never met Sherm but he & I had an email friendship established through our common interests and contacts in the LTCI industry.  I was first exposed to him through LTC News & Comment.  I always felt I knew him personally.  He was so astute and really had a brilliant mind.  I nearly always agreed with his "take" on things and I will not forget the tremendous enrichment and professional insight he gave me. 

 

Matt Sherman, Master Long Term Care Specialist, GE Capital Assurance:  I have been invigorated on many occasions by Mr. Sherman's compassion to the L.T.C. world.  He was full of knowledge and was only too quick and eager to share it with any one with an open ear and willing to listen.  He had more energy in his little finger than most of us had in our whole body.

 

Martin K. Bayne:  The last time I saw Sherm, he was sitting in my living room in a green Queen Anne's chair, and we were talking about the history of Roman Catholicism in the fourth century.  During the conversation, I would occasionally watch him talk, and I would realize again what a special person he was, and often how much he reminded me of myself.  That was a year ago.

 

Then we fast forward to the now infamous ADL Digest letter of September 12, 2001.  George made it clear in an email he sent after reading the letter that he was not at all happy with my editorial conclusions.  And I wrote back accusing him of behaving in his usual irascible, pig-headed, and stubborn fashion.  The emails had done their damage, and for the next two weeks, there was an awkward silence between two men who had been friends for ten years.

 

Therefore, I was overjoyed to receive an email from George referencing an article in the New England Journal of Medicine on Parkinson's Disease.  This was the peace pipe, and I grabbed at it with both hands. Within minutes we traded four emails. Our friendship was back on track, and everything felt right with the world once again.  The next day George died.

 

George Sherman was a man who had undergone religious training to become a priest, devoted a good deal of his professional career to long term-care, and could often be found tilting at windmills.  Just like me.

 

I have lost more than a friend.  I have lost part of myself.

 

Wilma G. Anderson, The LTC Coach:  What a loss to all of us.  George was at LTC, Inc. in Kirkland, Washington when I was a brand new Agent.  [HE] contributed so continuously to LTC and ethics.  I'm proud to have known him.

 

John C. Huismann:  Personally, I'll never  forget my introduction to George which was a session at a GE national sales meeting entitled "LTC IN YOUR FACE."  At first, I couldn't help but wonder what kind of a lunatic I was listening to.  Clearly, he was one passionate human being who was a strong voice for the industry.  We will all miss him.

 

Gene Cutler:  I've known George for 6 years, since meeting him at a Long Term Care conference in 1995.  Right away it was obvious that George had his own unique perspective on matters as they are and well-targeted insights as to how they could be.  George was truly an expert in our field, and I've turned to him on more than a few occasions for help and advice.  He was always there.  We'll all miss him.

 

Alan Kifer, CFP:  This is a loss for us all (who are dedicated to the LTC cause). 

 

Carol Murin, Senior Long Term Care Specialist, GE Financial Assurance:  Our industry has lost a great leader.

 

Jack A. Smelser, Senior National Alliance Specialist, GE Financial Assurance, Long Term Care Division:  When I think of George, I immediately see that twinkle in his eye and always with a grin...it always made me think what kind of mischief was he up to!  In 1996, George helped me clearly understand the workings of Washington, DC and how the focus is truly on power as opposed the welfare of the consumer.  He was forever optimistic and saw the positives of a bad situation knowing that with the right approach problems can be turned into benefits.  Thank you, George, for allowing so many of us look at life through your glasses and see that the music is always playing.

 

Barbara Franklin, Franklin & Associates, Inc.:  I had been very impressed with a recent article George wrote in LTC News and Comment called "The Future of the LTC Career Agent:   Is There One?"  I thought it was very insightful and thought-provoking.  When I sent the article along to various friends I pointed out that there were very few (if any) people in our industry that had George's vantage point and who could write such an article.   He will surely be missed.

 

John Quigley, AUL:  George will be missed.  I don't have a specific story.  I first met George back in the late 80's when I was with Aetna.  My recollection is that he was doing some work for us on a consulting basis, and I met him at an Aetna agent meeting in Pittsburgh.  He had a lot of statistics on the aging problem at a time when not too many people were thinking about this issue.  I remember him for his intelligence, his penetrating demeanor, he had a nice way about him, kind of intense, but like a dish of vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce, i.e., he was highly desirable for all that he knew about demographics but really a sweet man, and it seemed to me, a good, warm heart.  I remember him most of all for his passion on this topic of long term care, that he loved so much.  And how he always seemed to ask the questions that the rest of us were afraid to ask.  I did not know him well, and it sounds like you did, so I think that you are a lucky person to have known George, a person who is one of that small number of pioneers in our industry.  He was a good and decent man who seemed to wear his thoughts and passions on his sleeve.  And we are all better because we knew him.

 

Eileen Tell:  Thanks for a lovely tribute to a dedicated LTC'er.  He will be missed.  His humor and his voice helped shape the industry and give us all a reminder to question beyond the obvious.

 

Bob Glowacki:  I called George on Thursday morning fairly early.  I enjoyed calling him early telling him to wake up and get to work.  As you might guess George was always up when I called.  Sherman and I talked at least once a week, sometimes twice and in a really good week we might have had the chance to talk three times.  On Thursday when I called, George was in terrific spirits and form.  He was making breakfast and told me about 4 deer that where in his 'front yard.'  Two of the bucks had been sparring with each other - a reaaaalllly cool sight, he said.  Sherman enjoyed telling me about the deer and elk that he saw and I enjoyed hearing his stories.  I am fortunate enough to have several pictures that George took of elk that crossed the road by his house.  I will treasure those pictures forever and ever.  We talked about long term care financing, the tragedy in New York.  I teased George about being a 'cub reporter' when he brought up an article that he was doing for the next issue of LTC News & Comment.  Finally, I asked George to do some research for me - he was the guy that had all of the information, wasn't he?  He said that he would get to it - just as soon as he got back from his bike ride.  He was in great spirits.  We traded a few 'manly' jokes and I can still hear his laugh.  My life would not have been complete without knowing him.  My spirit is saddened by realizing that memories are all that I will now ever have of him.  I will miss my friend George.

 

Martha Hamilton:  I remember George well.  Who could ever forget George?  I met him when I started at AMEX Life in 1991.  He was unique and talented and a world of knowledge.  Everyone will miss him and his concern and astute writing about Long Term Care.

 

Gayle Doughton:   I have known George since he was at the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging in Washington, DC where we cut our teeth when we were in our thirties in the aging service network.  I have witnessed the many hats he has worn, and in recent years grew to count on his advice about the comings and goings in the long term care insurance industry.  Among some of his greatest gifts, was his photographic eye.  George shared many of his gorgeous photographs with me of the land he had grown to love and adore, and made many of us long for his respite surroundings. …  We will all miss him.

 

Yung-Ping "Bing" Chen:  Quite a few years George solicited an article on my LTC funding model after he had read an article of mine.  Then several years later, he noticed me after I made a comment at a Brookings Institution conference on long-term care, so I got to met him.  I am sorry long-term care lost such a friend in George.

 

W. June Simmons:  We all appreciated his work…the great newsletter.

 

Dominic Mogavero, Long Term Care Specialist, New England Financial Group:  Sherm had become a good friend over the past few years, and I had always been on the receiving end of his photography.  He had several enlarged for me, and matted; they hang in my office, and a couple at home.  He always joked about money, and yup, he charged me full boat for the enlargements !!!  The pictures are signed, and I'm glad I have them.  Take care in these uncertain times….

 

Brian Ellsworth, American Hospital Association:  I met George over the phone many years ago and found him to be friendly, an incisive analyst and a person committed to excellence in his job.  A true loss for long term care.

 

Tony Longo:. I, unfortunately, only had the opportunity to speak to George a dozen or so times in the last 5 years.  Even so, I'll miss him.  One of the many things George will probably be remembered by is his shyness and his inability to get excited about things. (That was a poor attempt at humor.)

 

Joyce Ruddock:  I admired George's passion, intelligence and courage.  We could always count on him to challenge our thinking, to say what needed to be said, and to inspire a new vision.  I will miss him.  Our industry has lost an important voice.

 

Rick Kalina:  George always had tremendous insight and his true gift to us all was his economy of language and his ability to articulate his opinions.  I had many wonderful conversations with George.  He had a lot to teach.  I will miss his insightful articles and interviews.

 

Don Durr, CLTC, Beaumont, TX:  George was a man who was not only passionate about LTC but was also a passionate photographer as well.  Who among those who knew him has not enjoyed the beauty of his awesome landscape photography.  I remember being with him approximately two years ago in an LTC meeting in Dallas, TX.  He addressed the attendees starting out warm and informative.  The longer his address continued the more intense and deliberate he became until the talk began to crescendo into a fevered passionate exhilarating climax with the audience chanting in rhythm to Dr. Sherman's pronouncements.  The memorable occasion ended in the hearers unanimously rising to their feet to give Dr. Sherman a thunderous standing ovation.  This man believed in what he did and brought out the best in all those who had the opportunity be in his company or within his wide-reaching information network.  I will greatly miss him.

 

Kathleen Hamby:  I had the pleasure of George's company briefly at lunch [at the LTCI conference in Miami].  I did enjoy it.  I had spoken with him for about 45 minutes the previous day and was so impressed with his dedication and passion.  I was glad he was an advocate for long term care.  Maybe I didn't agree with all his opinions but was so pleased that he could voice them.

 

Tara Johnson:  George was an unexpected light for me during a scary and yet exciting time.  I moved to California to open a new office 9 years ago.  Solely on commission for the first time in my life, a husband in school and 3 year old in tow, while exciting I had a tad bit of anxiety.  Out of the blue, George called me to check in and see how I was doing.  I had met him several times in the Seattle office and found his points of view refreshing and forward thinking.  Given that these moments were short I was overwhelmed that he called to see how we were!  The bad news:  his first call was a bad day for me.  It was during my first weeks of having a sales team and we were having a bad week.  The good news:  He talked about how he "knew" I would be successful the first time he met me.  That I had what it would take and he was watching my numbers week to week and was proud of me.  He also said to get back to work and quit whining!  It was unbelievably timely and kicked me back into gear.  He called a few more times that year and during his last call he talked about how he could mark me off his list of needing support!  I had arrived!  George Sherman was a leader, a visionary and we are in a more successful place because of him.

 

Carolyn Kates:  I knew George Sherman through his incredibly insightful commentary and updates on the LTCI industry.  When I entered the LTCI industry from a completely different profession, George seemed to make sense of the differing opinions and facts, which I encountered through my initial training and reading, concerning the need for long term care protection.  He also illustrated the flaws in the current long-term care financing system and gave down-to-earth suggestions on how it could be changed.  I will miss his intellect, his vision and his kindness.  I only spoke to him twice but knew that he was far beyond the sales rhetoric, which I was constantly being bombarded with and showed me that there was a place in the LTCI industry for someone who was used to being compassionate, understanding and insightful.  I will miss him, his words and his unique way of clearing out the dust and getting to the real issues!

 

Kent Wise:  I always thought of George as a man with unbridled enthusiasm.  George had a uniqueness about him I find hard to put into words, only to say that his zest for life was always present.  One meets very few like him in a lifetime.  He will be missed.

 

Dennis S. Rompala, CLU, CLTC:  I began an email relationship with Sherm last February.  In one of my many inquiries to him for LTC "nuggets" or further clarification on this or that, as a CLTC graduate, he asked where I lived one day.  Since then we had corresponded regarding photo-flower shooting trips in the mountains, camping and fishing trips, etc.  He started it with a photo he took of the mountains near his place in Colorado, and we just carried on from there.  From my limited contacts with him, he seemed to be a truly "nice" man and was one of my main "lifeblood" sources for LTC info and trends.  As I write this I still can't believe he won't be sending me anymore photos or messages.

 

Neville Verster, C.L.T.C.:  George was passionate about his work in the LTC industry, and he was a real contributor to many of us.  His News & Comments were way ahead of anything at the time, and he was a true No-Spin guy.  He was someone who really understood the sales agent, and the issues that are important to us.  I will miss my conversations with him.

 

Sally H. Leimbach, CLU, CEBS, LTC Insurance Specialists, LLC:  When I started  my specialization in LTCI almost 10 years ago, the only credible  consistent information came from George Sherman through LTC News and Comment.  I waited anxiously each month for the postman to deliver my issue, dropped everything and retired to a quiet corner to absorb the newest and best information like a sponge wishing for more water.  Over the years, George's newsletter has remained my favorite for "keeping up" and now he will be sorely missed.  Several years ago, George asked me to contribute an article about the status of the group LTCI marketplace, which I did.  Several months ago he asked me to do an update.  I delayed, hoping to install one or two more groups to be sure I "had it right."  I was looking forward to sharing back with George that which he surely contributed to me, my ability to strive to be a worthy professional in the LTCI marketplace.  I was among the lucky who knew George.  I now wish it could have been  for a longer period of time.

 

Alan Levine:  Unfortunately, I never knew Sherm very well, so I don't have any stories to contribute...however I sat  next to him at a couple of functions and spoke to him several times on the telephone.  I do know that he really knew this business!  I always marveled that he said whatever he wanted whenever he wanted.  I often just shook my head, but I also often said to myself:  "I wish I had the nerve to say that."  I'll certainly miss George - a man with a tough exterior, but  real caring and sensitive inside. 

 

Barbara Hanson:  My favorite memory of Sherm was at a conference in Hawaii in 1997, when he and a group of guys donned sunglasses and did a spirited rendition of "Men in Black," complete with attitude and snapping fingers.  Whatever Sherm did was with a wonderful sense of abandon or sharp attention to detail, whichever was appropriate.  He emailed me fotos of his dream home in the mountains.  I know he loved it there.  I am so glad he got to live where he wanted and was able to help the cause of LTC so admirably.  We loved that guy and we'll miss him a lot.  He was a bright light.

 

Chris Kramer-Harnage, HMG, Inc.:  Sherm truly was on the forefront of the pulse of LTCI. 

 

Cady Erickson:  George was so enjoying his new home and surroundings and it seems so unfair he didn't have decades more to spend there.  We have lost such a diligent and tireless advocate for our cause, as well.

 

Rachel Faiga:  I really appreciated all the newsletters.

 

Matt Hamann:  Without knowing George well...his passion for long term care was obvious.  His efforts to positively promote LTC awareness and responsibility were second to none.  Many who never knew his name have experienced a loss they will never understand.  Those of us that had a glimpse of the man, will be grateful for the impact he had while with us.

 

Bob Callanan:  I had several "intellectually stimulating" discourses with "Father George" ... both of us sharing our "Catholic Seminary" years, etc., and even more drill-down, shoot-out discussions on LTC matters, particularly regarding the Military and LTC.  I enjoyed working with George.  When he moved to Colorado he sent a dozen photos of his "new" home:  home was truly unique and the view spectacular!!  One never knows!  Still, this IS the FIRST DAY of the Rest of OUR Lives!