FAIRLEE, VT — Bradley Elwin Sherman, of Bethlehem, NH and Fairlee, VT, died on November 11, 2019 at age 68 with family at his side. Born and raised in Laconia, NH, he was known as “Brad” or “El” depending on when he came into your life. He inherited his musical gifts from his father, and was a talented pianist, percussionist, piano tuner and technician.
Corporal Bradley E. Sherman was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, serving stateside during the Vietnam War era.
He graduated from Franconia College with a BA in Performing Arts. He proudly directed his play about the Vietnam War, “Esprit de Corp,” at Franconia’s Dow Academy to a full house and rave reviews.
Following in the footsteps of his mother and sister, Brad received his nursing degree from Essex Technical Institute. His nursing career “covered the waterfront,” from jails to nursing homes, from a convent in the White Mountains (“If you can put a nun together in the morning, you can assemble just about anything!”) to hospice care in tough neighborhoods in Tucson (“Nursing with a Smith & Wesson on your hip and stethoscope around your neck.”). Most recently he focused on private duty nursing, providing one-on-one care to seniors and their families.
Brad was an enthusiastic skydiver who made over 300 solo and formation jumps.
Brad published numerous books and articles as B. Elwin Sherman. El was a humorist, political satirist, and seriocomic essayist whose works were published in New Hampshire Magazine, Yankee Magazine, and worldwide through a senior news syndicate and in his blog, witbones.blogspot.com. He chronicled his journey with cancer in mycancerdomain.com, both humorous and raw, and was very vocal on Facebook. He would now ask his friends to cheer him on with one more “Attaboy!” as he embarks on this next journey.
El was happiest riding his Harley, kayaking, playing and improvising on keyboard, and crafting his latest written piece. He especially cherished his daughter’s performances in aerial dance and circus arts, and his grandson Myles’ bluesy jazz improv on the keyboard. We will miss El’s intelligence, musicianship, creativity, wit, and wonderful nursing and caregiving skills, and are glad for the legacy he left us.
Brad/El was predeceased by his beloved father Alger Sherman, brother Gary, and spouses Christine Sherman and Judith Wallace. He leaves his wife and partner of 5 years, Diane Church Sherman and her son Gabriel Lambie; daughter Erin Lovett-Sherman and her husband Michael, son Rory Lovett and his wife Rachael, and their mother Celeste Lovett; grandchildren Myles, Bodhi, Norah, Brady and Alice; his mother Pauline Twombly Sherman; sister Susan Carey, brothers David and Andrew, and their families; and special friend Joe Guertin.
We thank the VA Medical Center; DHMC; Bayada Hospice; Jack Byrne Center at DHMC; and Upper Valley Ambulance for wonderful care.
A celebration of life will be held at a future date. If you wish to make a donation in Brad/El’s memory, please consider the scholarship fund in his name at ARTSFEST, his daughter’s aerial dance, circus and performing arts company and education center (ARTSFEST, 44 Dartmouth St, Laconia, NH 03246).