University of Portland Museum

In Memory: Rev. Charles David Sherrer, C.S.C., September 21, 1935 – April 13, 2017

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Rev. Charles David Sherrer, C.S.C., died at the age of 81 on Holy Thursday, April 13, 2017 at home at Notre Dame surrounded by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross.  Fr. Sherrer studied at Notre Dame as a seminarian, taking his BA in 1958.  He set foot in a UP English classroom for the first time in 1962.  In 2005, he retired from UP, Professor of English and distinguished administrator.  Between these beginnings and ends, Fr. Sherrer did a lot of stuff along the way, but always and first, understood himself as Holy Cross religious, priest, and teacher.

English and Foreign Languages Faculty, 1999. Front row: Trudie Booth, Kate Regan, Louis Masson, Rev. Jeffrey Cooper, C.S.C., Sr. Joan Saalfeld, SNJM; Back row: Lora Looney, Rev. David Sherrer, C.S.C., Ralph Genske, John Orr, Herman Asarnow

At UP he occupied multiple lecterns.  In classrooms, at many faculty functions, and serving as master of ceremonies for many, many Commencement exercises during the years when Fr. Sherrer carried the duties of Graduate School Dean and, later, Academic Vice President (1987-1995).  A full-professor from 1991 until his retirement. 

Brian Doyle, the editor of Portland Magazine, caught and highlighted the following words in which Fr. Sherrer describes the dynamic and rewards and humility of the teacher’s art:

“Of all the hours in my day the most rewarding are those in class, and it is my conclusion after forty years that it is never a bad day in class as long as I learn something, which I do every class, so there you are.” (Portland Magazine, Spring 2005, p. 13)

(Photos from the University Archives, click on image to enlarge)

Rev. David Sherrer, C.S.C., English professor, 1963
University President, Rev. David Tyson, C.S.C. and Vice Presidents, 1996 Commencement
Rev. David Sherrer, C.S.C., President of Kings College, and lion mascot, 1980 or 81
Rev. David Sherrer, C.S.C., Academic Vice President, ca1996 Commencement
UP Deans Meeting, 1983
Rev. David Sherrer, C.S.C., at Desk in Buckley Center, 1974
Rev. David Sherrer, C.S.C., in Chapel of Christ the Teacher, 2015
Rev. David Sherrer, 2005

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Fr. Sherrer was such a kind, supportive colleague to me during my first years as a junior faculty member in English and Foreign Languages. I remember his exacting sense of humor in department meetings. For this reason, I will always remember his laughter even when it only expressed itself as twinkle in his eye.

  2. For those of your readers who might wonder about the photo of Sherrer standing with someone in a lion’s suit, it was when he was president of King’s College in Pennsylvania. The school’s athletic teams were called the lions and Leo the Lion was the King’s version of UP’s Wally Pilot.

  3. A learned colleague, a good friend, a wonderful sense of humor are words that describe Fr. Sherrer. But he was so much more to so many people.
    I feel blessed to have known him.