Remembering Feb 19

Two things for today. (Stepping back to share the post from Feb 19, 2013)

One: 68 years ago, the Marines landed on Iwo Jima. Among them Jerry charged ashore as part of the 1st Joint Assault Signal Company in the 4th Division. He was lucky to walk off the island when it was all over. When asked about his time there, most of the time he said: "the real heroes did not come home."


Two: 67 years after he had landed and was lucky to walk off the island, Jerry took his last walk from us. I still think there was something about that connection.

Deep in the archives, there are recordings of Jerry talking of his life. I was fortunate to capture from his earliest memory up to the beginning of the 1950's. Unfortunately, I did not get more than that. His health problems started intervening. A couple of times when we did sit to record turned out to be TIA incidents where we rushed off to the hospital. I got a little gun shy after those incidents.

What we have we can listen to again and again. And treasure for the guidance and example he did set!

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This is a brief recording where Jerry recalls his earliest memory and how there were two "Henry's".

Time: 4 minutes, 8 seconds

RIP - SHERLOCK, HENRY J.

SHERLOCK, HENRY J., 87, passed away peacefully Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at his home in Providence. He was married to Lucille (Bilodeau) Sherlock for 56 years. Born in Pawtucket, he was a son of the late John F. and Mary (King) Sherlock. 

After graduating from St. Raphael Academy and completing his service in the U.S. Navy, he enrolled at Providence College and graduated in 1950. It was that year that Henry began what turned out to be a 63 year working career starting as a reporter for the Pawtucket Times where he worked for 12 years. He then became assistant to the director of the RI Department of Public Works and held that position for six years. 

The following three years were spent in PR work for two prominent advertising and public relations agencies before starting his own firm in 1972. Four years later he became Executive Director of Construction Industries of Rhode Island, a position he held for 37 years until retiring last December at age 87. He continued as a consultant to CIRI. 

Besides his wife, he is survived by his children: Susan Shedd and her husband Daniel of North Reading, MA, Peter Sherlock and his wife Mary of Sudbury, MA, Alan Sherlock and his wife Jennifer of Colorado Springs, CO and Julie Sherlock and her husband Stephen Hurrell of Westerly. 

He is also survived by two sisters: Angela Brousseau of South Kingstown and Helene Mainor of North Kingstown. He leaves 9 grandchildren and 45 nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Mary Frances Campbell, Martina Higgins, John, Edward, Gerald and Paul Sherlock. 

Left to Right (back row) Henry, Helene, Gerry; (Front row) Martina, Angela, Jack - taken in 2007

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, May 10th at 12 noon in St. Pius V Church, Eaton St., Providence. Burial will be private. Visiting hours will be Friday, May 9th from 4 to 7pm in the MACERONI Funeral Home, 1381 Smith St., North Providence. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Henry J. Sherlock Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Construction Industries of RI, 615 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick, RI 02886. 

maceroni.com - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/providence/obituary.aspx?n=henry-sherlock&pid=170953878&fhid=28487#sthash.LoSRnCDF.dpuf 

Martina and Jerry

While eating with Martina and Jerry they spoke about getting permission to get into the war effort.
Jerry said that his parents refused to give him permission to join. " Ma said NO"
Martina then related the same thing." Oh, Ma refused to give me permission to go as a nurse."
She turned to me with the trademark Sherlock grin. I appealed to her as a mother. "But Ma if all the mothers of nurses told their daughters no, what would happen? Who would take care of all the boys? What would happen to Jack, Ted and Jerry?" Talk about your Irish guilt!

Mrs. Sherlock relented. Martina did add; " Well I didn't need permission as I was old enough. Times were different though I needed my mothers permission."

Jerry then said that he told the recruiter that his mother wouldn't give permission. The recruiter told Jerry that the Government would be drafting in September of 1943 and you never knew what would happen. She relented and Jerry was accepted for the Marines and went to Parris Island Recruit Depot in October of 1943. I suspect it was a little more complicated then that.

I am reminded after taking Jerry to see "Saving Private Ryan" I spoke to Jerry the next day and we spoke of some things that remain personal. However the one thing that stands out is like the fictional Mrs. Ryan, Jerry said Mrs. Sherlock had a banner with stars for Martin, Jack, Ted, Henry and Jerry. He said it must have been pretty hard on his mother. He considers himself very fortunate. Large families separated with members all over the world defending freedom. They all came home.

We tend to forget in our iPhone, Blackberry driven world of instant communications and take a lot for granted. Jerry and Martina spoke of getting mail from home. Times were different.

So the next time you voice or memory dial, take a moment to think of Mrs Sherlock in the dark days of the War with her children in far flung places. Never knowing.

Have a great day! Thanks Martina, Jack, Ted, Henry, Jerry, Fran, and of course Vin Campbell.

Henry, Mart and the imp herself

Jerry's brother and sister: Henry and Martina pose with young Paula Brousseau. The writing in pencil on the back of this original says "Henry, Mart and the imp herself. You can see from the position that Paula is in one of her rare moods and is just about ready for anything."

The pencil handwriting is similar to others found thus far which indicate that this was written by Jerry's mother Mary. Yes, to keep the record straight Mary was also mother to Henry and Martina, and grandmother to Paula.

Sherlock Clan

Sherlock Clan, originally uploaded by shersteve.

front row: Martina, Angela, Jack
back row: Henry, Helene, Jerry

If the picture does not show completely in your browser window, click on the picture to view the original in Flickr.

The photo was taken during the reception at Rhode Island College following the funeral for their sister M Francis Campbell. RIC President John Nazarian stopped in to the reception to extend his condolences to the family and friends gathered there. He said that he will miss Fran. No matter what he said, she always had something else to add. She is probably looking down upon us all now and commenting.

Fran Campbell

M. Frances Campbell

CAMPBELL, M. FRANCES 'FRAN', 93, of Walcott Street, died Saturday at Memorial Hospital. She was the wife of the late Vincent J. Campbell, Sr.

Born in Pawtucket, she was a daughter of the late John F. Sr. and Mary Agnes (King) Sherlock and was a lifelong resident of the city. She was educated at Sacred Heart Grammar and High Schools in Pawtucket and graduated from Rhode Island College of Education in 1935. She began her 40 year teaching career at Oakland Beach School in Warwick followed by periods at Samuel Slater Jr. High School, Pawtucket, John W. Horton School, and later at Parkview Jr. High School both in Cranston. She was a critic teacher for many years guiding numerous student teachers toward academic excellence. She was a Past President of the RI Retired Teachers and the Blackstone Valley Teachers, Past Secretary & Treasurer of the RI Social Studies Association, a member of the Central Retired Teachers, A.F. of T. Retired Teachers, American Association of Teacher Educators, Delegate to the Annual Teacher Educators Convention for RI, a member of the Legislative Committee of the RI Teachers Association and the AARP Community Participation Person of the RI Teachers Association.

She was a Lecturer and Eucharistic minister at St. Joseph Church, Pawtucket as well as Past President of its Senior Citizens Club and Past Vice President of its Woman's Club. She was Past President of Mercy Mount Mothers Club, Past President of Sacred Heart High School Alumni. She was Treasurer of Catholic Woman's Club of RI and former member of the Ladies Auxiliary of St. Raphael Academy and Recording Secretary and Treasurer.

Mrs. Campbell was a Charter member of Providence College Veridames, and member of the RI College Alumni Association. She was a Regent of the Pawtucket Circle of the Daughters of Isabella and Recording Secretary of the State Circle.

On the Community level, she began her service with the American Red Cross Motor Service from 1941-1945 as a driver. She was a member of the Memorial Hospital Guild, the Pawtucket Women's Club, the Pawtucket Public Library, Deborah Cook-Sayles since 1983 and served as a Chairperson and later a Vice Chairperson there, and was a member of the Visiting Nurses of Blackstone Valley. She was a 2003 inductee of the Pawtucket Hall of Fame.

She was great advocate for Elderly issues and rights and testified at the RI State House Hearing and Committees. She was appointed a Delegate to the US Representative Fernand St. Germain White House Conference in 1981. She was Past President of Pawtucket Senior Citizen's Council, a Board Member of the Leon Mathieu Senior Center, and an Advisory Board Member of the Home and Community Care Board of the Department of Elderly Affairs. She was Elected State Democratic Woman for District 62.

She is survived by two sons, Vincent J. Jr. and his wife Patricia Campbell of Rehoboth, MA, Kevin P. Campbell of Pawtucket; three sisters, Martina Higgins of Bristol, Angela Brousseau of South Kingstown, Helene A. Mainor of North Kingstown; three brothers, John F. Sherlock, Sr. of Pawtucket, Gerald F. Sherlock of Smithfield, Henry J. Sherlock of Providence; four grandchildren, Shawn C. and his wife Holly Campbell of Rumford, Todd R. Campbell of Pawtucket, Honey H. Campbell of Pawtucket, Roseanna C. and her husband Brian Cavanaugh of Franklin, MA, and one great-grandson, Connor J. Campbell of Rumford. She was the sister of the late Rep. Paul Sherlock and Edward 'Ted' Sherlock. She was the former mother-in-law of Jann Campbell of Arlington, VA.

A funeral will be held on Friday at 8:30 a.m. from the CHEETHAM MORTUARY INC., 1012 Newport Ave., Pawtucket with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph Church, 193 Walcott St., Pawtucket. Burial will be in Mt. St. Mary Cemetery, Pawtucket. Relatives and friends are invited and may call on Thursday from 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. Donations may be made to RI College Foundation, 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Prov., RI 02980, in 'Fran's' memory.

Published in The Providence Journal on 10/30/2007.

My Earliest Memory

Jerry recalls his earliest memory, how there were two "Henrys".

Time: 4 minutes, 8 seconds



MP3 File