Obituary of Sharon Herrmann

HERRMANN, Sharon Ann, 75, of Stuart, FL, passed away on October 10th after an extraordinary life. Sharon was born on March 15, 1949, in Batavia, NY to George and Wilma Hackett. She was the middle child with two sisters – Marcia and Patricia. After graduating from Oakfield Alabama High School in 1967, she went on to study elementary education at SUNY Geneseo, graduating in 1972. A few years later she received her master’s in education from Elmira College. In 1968, while a freshman at Geneseo, Sharon met Peter Herrmann. What ensued began a lifetime of adventures that took them all over the country. They were married in May 1970 and moved to LeRoy, NY for teaching jobs – Peter as a junior high school teacher and Sharon as a kindergarten teacher. In 1980, the pair moved to Annapolis, Maryland where Peter took a basketball coaching position at the US Naval Academy. Sharon embraced the role of coach’s wife but also followed her passion for teaching by starting a job at St. Mary’s Elementary School teaching 6 th grade. They lived in Annapolis for 12 years before beginning a journey through Kansas, Virginia, Kentucky and Georgia. Each stop brought a new “family” of players and other coaches and their families. Through it all, Sharon was committed to teaching. First in the elementary age classroom, but later, making the transition to teaching at the college level. The impact she made on students from fifth grade to college seniors, as well as her peers, cannot be understated. Teaching was her passion. She helped countless students -- including her grandson, Pete – through algebra, whether in person or over the phone! But her expectations were high. Throughout her career – until she retired in 2019 – she taught multiple subjects to a wide variety of students, often those who were first generation college students or who struggled with math. Her students knew they had to work hard, and she wasn’t an easy teacher, but they also knew she would always take the time to answer any questions or help them learn with incredible patience and her way of being able to explain at everyone’s understanding level. Everywhere they went she made a quiet impact, touching people’s lives in a positive way, always giving of herself and inspiring students to be their best. Once retired, Sharon’s love and curiosity for learning never waned. She enjoyed reading, doing her daily crossword puzzle and sudoku, trying a new recipe. Ask her a question and she was the first to pick up her phone, Google the answer and then share. Always the teacher! She also loved being active – morning walks, swims – and exploring new places. But undoubtedly the thing she loved the most was time spent with family. Whether it was watching any kind of sports with husband, Peter (Go Bills, Guardians, and UGA!), playing games or looking at old family slides with her sister, Pat; mini golfing with her grandson, Pete, during the annual Herrmann family Rehoboth Beach trip, to just enjoying every minute spent with her daughter, Lisa. Family was the cornerstone of Sharon’s life. Like her students, the impact she made on her family and friends will be lasting. One of her nephews described her best – casually tough, easy going but focused, incredibly patient and generous to a fault. Sharon was predeceased by her parents, George and Wilma Hackett, and her sister Marcia Hackett. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Peter; daughter Lisa (Durham, NC); grandson Peter Gottschalk (Atlanta, GA); and sister Patricia Hackett (Tucson, AZ). A celebration of life service will be held at the JAMES W. CANNAN FUNERAL HOME, 3155 Orchard Park Road in Orchard Park, NY (716) 675-9027 on Saturday November 9 at from 11am - 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the NABC Coaches vs. Cancer Organization at https://www.cancer.org/about-us/our-partners/coaches-vs-cancer.html