This is with incredible sadness that I hear of Mr. Sherman’s passing. My name is Catherine Henin-Clark, and without Mr. Sherman I simply would not have succeeded in being who I am today. Mr. Sherman, along with the wonderful people of Landis, Graham and French law firm, accepted to offer
me a clerkship as a foreign law clerk in 1983 while I was in law school in Paris, France, and then in 1984
when I had just passed the bar exam there. His warmth, sweetness, and altruism were second to none. I
never remember a day without pure kindness and patience combined with a desire to teach and give. The room would always light up when Mr. Sherman would show up and his smile and bright eyes were the reflection of his brilliant mind and sense of living life to the fullest.

Mr. Sherman was truly a mentor to me and the one who told me to go to my first immigration law seminar
in Miami where I met other wonderful people. He encouraged me to take a job in Tampa and become a
lawyer in the U.S. Thanks to his wonderful advice, guidance, and most of all genuine belief that I could
succeed, I followed his advice and have been a successful immigration lawyer for over 23 years.
I often think of Mr. Sherman with such gratitude and tenderness because he is one of the guardian angels which happened to cross my path. I was so fortunate to have known him.
Goodbye Mr. Sherman. I have a feeling I will see you again…
Catherine

I first met Bill when my firm, Kirk Pinkerton, joined the Florida Law Network many years ago. Some of my
colleagues already knew him through the RPPTL Section. Bill and I had mutual interests as we both were involved in probate and trust litigation at the time. As I saw more of him at the FLN meetings over the years it was hard not to like the LawNet’s version of Col. Saunders. Even as his health declined after he fractured his hip Bill was a regular and active participant in the meetings and teleconferences. The term “grand old man of the law” fits Bill perfectly as the many condolence messages demonstrate. Were any of us to achieve one-half of the honors and had 10% of the admirers he had, we would consider ourselves fortunate indeed.

I enjoyed Bill, I will miss him and I wish his family and firm my very best.
L. Norman Vaughan-Birch
Kirk-Pinkerton

Bill Sherman was a giant of a man, both literally and figuratively. But such a dear man who had time for
anyone who would listen to his counsel. Bill led his firm as the third membership in the Florida Law
Network. I personally visited with him so many years ago. Bill and his firm have perhaps been the most
faithful attendees of the meetings. But, from that date forward, Bill and I became fast friends as we worked through a number of complex matters he ask me to handle with him. I looked forward to sitting next to Bill at all of the Network meetings. Bill will be sorely missed by all.
C. Parkhill Mays, Jr. Partner
Holland & Knight

Bill Sherman was a very kind and patient man when I met him, as an associate attorney at his law firm in the late 1990s. He was tickled to have me join the ranks, as we were both Florida Gators and Democrats, and he had become the minority in both groups in recent years among the attorneys at the firm. He loved to talk about estates and trusts and everything to do with probate, and would allow you to come into his office and visit, helping you figure out the answers to your estate planning questions in a professional manner. He was always pleasant and welcoming to me and I think everyone felt that way about him. He loved his law firm and was the heart of the firm. I always thought that he would die - happily - at his desk, working away or calling someone to cajole him into volunteering for some project to help others. I always looked for him at Bar functions or Tiger Bay, so I could have a hug and some friendly words of support and encouragement, especially after I left his firm to open my own firm... he continued to give me words of wisdom and support, and I will truly miss him.
Janet M. Strickland, Esq.

Bill Sherman was a wonderful man. As I think back, I have respected and liked many people that I have
known professional relationships, but Bill stands out as someone I loved. He was just such a fine person,
such a perfect gentleman, so intelligent, so kind. It was wonderful to listen to his graceful and elegant use of words. He had a sparkle in his eyes. He was courageous, hardworking and devoted. I am sad that he is gone.
Steve Strawn

While I spoke to Bill many times over years because of my work in the Crowther Law Office, I have a
personal story to remember about him that had nothing to do with our professional relationship. While Bill was always a gentlemen, the legal matters were sometimes inherently adversarial.

Bill and I often saw each other and exchanged greetings late after work at Publix on Orange Camp Road. On one occasion Bill and I were in the same check out lane and another customer became aggressive and threatening toward me. Bill, who was tall in stature with a full head of thick white hair, and usually dressed in a suit, could at times be intimidating because of his appearance, and even more so if you knew his background in legal matters. He happened to be in line behind me and immediately came to my rescue to diffuse the situation. After the incident was over, Bill called me aside to assure me that anytime I was in trouble or needed anything, I could always call upon him, and he would be there to help. He insisted that I do so. Whenever I think of Bill, I always remember this encounter with a smile.
Margaret S. Crowther
Legal Assistant
John B. Crowther, Attorney at Law

When Bill and I were teenagers in Winter Haven we were out on Lake Cannon and cruising along in a
vintage boat of the times, both watching a young lady along the beach. With our attention thus distracted,
we hit a floating dock. No real tragedy, but quite an experience in observation and the result of a lack of
focus. Bill was a life long friend and we shared political, governance and personal experiences for those
many years. I had a profound admiration and genuine affection for Bill; a dear life long friend. I will miss
knowing he is there in Deland, practicing the law he loved and walking about the Florida he loved so much.
Earl Starnes

Bill Sherman was always a consummate gentleman, a lawyer’s lawyer, a keen intellect and a friend. We will miss him very, very much! Bill was always tolerant of those of us who lacked his experience and wisdom, but never made us feel that we were just being tolerated. Bill loved life and spent it wisely and we will strive to do the same.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
Mike Swaine

It is hard for me to imagine “Landis” without Mr. Sherman. He was such a knowledgeable and kind man and an inspiration to me. We spent hours working on estate plans for others. He was so helpful to me when my husband died. He had of course also shared losses of his children and understood what I was going through.

Please let Vicki know how sorry I am and that I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers for comfort. My
sincerest sympathies to all of you in your loss.
Love,
June Dupree Rhodes
Vice President & Trust Advisor
SUNTRUST BANK INC.

I was truly saddened to learn of Bill’s death. We have lost an outstanding member of The Florida Bar and
the Florida Law Network who will be greatly missed. In addition, I had a relationship of personal friendship with him from serving on the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section Executive Council when he was the Chair. I join with all other members of the Network in expressing my sadness at this loss.
S. Austin Peele
Darby, Peele, Bowdoin & Payne

I am terribly sad to hear of Bill’s passing. I was very fond of Bill and had been planning to pay him a visit
when I returned from my trip out of town. He seemed to be in such good spirits when I last visited him while he was in rehab in Apopka. He was so generous to me with his time, always willing to share stories about the history of our community. He was a wealth of knowledge. What a loss to our community and to me personally. I am hoping I will be able to attend his memorial service but may not be able to get back to DeLand in time. Please share my deepest sympathy with Channing, Diane and Bill’s other co-workers and of course to his wife Vicki.
With sympathy,
Diana Fish
Florida Hospital/Fish Memorial Foundation

Of course, I was disappointed that I could not be with you and others on Friday. But I know Bill would have been understanding in light of where I was. I was in Tallahassee, working on legislative issues for the bar and the Section, continuing a tradition begun by Bill so many years ago. I saw Bill Wiley in the Capitol on Wednesday and we shared memories of Bill S. Bill W. told me that he thinks that Bill S. was singularly responsible for initiating the Section having its own lobbyists, making him the granddaddy of the Section’s legislative program.

My 15 year old son served as a page in the Senate during this past week. Bill was always so kind to my
family and I know he would have been pleased to know that one of his extended family through the Section was seeing state government up close and personal!

One last observation that I would like to share about Bill. I have a clear memory of a walk down the hallway in the Breakers next to the dining room on the north side of the court yard as a young lawyer. I was there with Bob Landon, who had hired me out of law school just a couple of years earlier, at an Attorney/Trust Officer Liaison Conference. Bill walked by and Bob introduced me to him. Then Bob mentioned to Bill that he would like to see me get involved in the Section and would like any help Bill could give. Bill assured us that he would do what he could. I am confident that my opportunities in the Section and as a lawyer were changed for the better as a result of that request and Bill’s guidance over the past 20+ years.
Laird A. Lile

Bill was one of the “Old Guard” who, along with Bill Belcher and John Arthur Jones, made the RPPTL
Section of the Florida Bar what it is today. He always was gracious and charming, exhibiting a calm
demeanor, while offering sage advice when asked. More than anyone else I recall, he went out his way to make everyone feel at home. Indeed, my most cherished memory of Bill was from sometime ago, after I had chaired the Section and was being asked to take a leadership role in another organization. He approached me and urged me to accept that position, but said “we know that you have to go do this, but just remember that this (the Section) is home. And we will be looking for you to come back.” I will miss the warmth and graciousness of my dear friend.
Ed Koren

I was saddened to read the obituary of William Sherman. We grew up together in Winter Haven; both
attended Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Ga.

He came home from WW II a year before me. His father was our family MD for over twenty years. Bill was
one of the finest people I have ever known as a bonafide and caring human being. He will certainly be
missed by all those whose lives he touched with his kindness and understanding. Our prayers and thoughts go out to this wife in her sorrow.
Dr. and Mrs. Bill Seiler, PhD
DOC, NOAA, NWS, Rtd.

Unfortunately, Bill's funeral service was held while I was leading the Section's out-of-state Executive Council meeting last month, so I was unable to attend. I noted, however, that it was held on the feast day of St. Joseph, which was quite appropriate since Bill was a father figure to many in the RPPTL Section. Like St. Joseph, he led by quiet example, with humility and grace, and he was as fine a gentleman as I have known. He will be deeply missed by all of his Section friends, including me.
John B. Neukamm,
RPPTL Section Chair