Skip to main content

Richard Sherman: Office of the Secretary

Richard Mylius Sherman (G’62, Gr’69, WG’79), who held multiple positions at Penn in the Office of the Secretary, died of congestive heart failure in West Chester, Ohio, on February 15. He was 78.

Dr. Sherman grew up in Norwood, Ohio, and after receiving his undergraduate degree in 1961 from the University of Cincinnati, he moved to Philadelphia to attend Penn. Here he received his MA in history in 1962 and subsequently his PhD in medieval studies in 1969. That year, he was hired as the assistant secretary in the Office of the Secretary. He was involved in compiling a history of the Fourth Street site where the charity school stood, which would become the University (Almanac January 25, 1972).

Dr. Sherman became a lecturer at Penn in 1976 an taught an undergraduate course on Roman Britain and Medieval England; he became a placement officer in 1978. During this time, he obtained his MBA from Wharton. He left Penn in 1979. Dr. Sherman worked at two companies in human resources before taking a position with the human resources consulting firm Drake Beam Morin, where he managed the outplacement program.

He is survived by his second wife, Annette Moore; his sister, Marguerite Sherman Torrey; his daughter, Elisabeth (Chad); grandchildren, Abigail and Gavin; nephew, Andrew (Jill) Torrey; and niece, Kathryn Torrey.

Back to Top