All through his life, Don Sherratt touched the lives of numerous others in a most constructive manner, whether or not as a park director, coach, instructor, administrator, in his work with the Boys and Ladies Membership of Alameda or within the lots of the different roles through which he served his neighborhood.
He knew lots of people, and lots of in the neighborhood knew him. Even these not personally aware of Sherratt knew of him by way of experiences within the Alameda Journal, and, earlier than that, the Alameda Occasions-Star.
Many present and former Alamedans — and many different folks— had been saddened to study of Sherratt’s demise July 10 at age 83 after a brief undisclosed sickness. Lots of of mourners packed Christ Episcopal Church at a funeral for Sherratt on July 26, which might have been his 84th birthday.
“His dedication to bettering the lives of Alameda’s youth and teenagers was felt in each occasion he attended, concept he offered and program he improved,” the Alameda Boys & Ladies Membership (ABGC) stated in an announcement. “Having a real understanding of the wants of our neighborhood’s youngsters, Don’s experience helped our packages and providers flourish.”
Different tributes rapidly adopted.
“By means of the years, my interactions with Don had been by means of the Boys and Ladies Membership of Alameda,” stated Kathie Woulfe, who has additionally lengthy been concerned in Alameda actions. “He was a relentless reminder for me of how one can quietly ‘lean in for our youth.’ He exemplified compassion with a mutual respect for the youth served on the Boys and Ladies Membership.”
For Woulfe, the connection to the Sherratt household goes again even additional, having graduated from Alameda Excessive College in 1964 with Wealthy Sherratt, Don’s youthful brother.
“Don married Margie Burns Sherratt, my buddy from the AHS class of 1965. They’ve shared a lifetime of love, household and neighborhood service,” Woulfe stated.
A lifelong Alamedan born to Gladys and Harry Sherratt on July 26, 1939, Donald Robert Sherratt grew up loving his native metropolis, and Alameda returned that love. Sherratt confirmed athletic prowess from an early age, particularly on the baseball diamond.
A publish dated June 28, 2017, on “Playball! — Alameda’s Sandlot Weblog” recounted an August 1954 Occasions-Star story that advised of Sherratt as a 3rd baseman with a positive glove, robust arm and potent bat as he hit .818 to steer the Lincoln Park Dodgers to the East Finish championship of the Alameda Recreation and Park Division’s (ARPD) Police League.
Sherratt additionally performed on the Lincoln staff that had received the East Finish title a yr earlier. Having beforehand attended Mastick and Haight colleges, Sherratt graduated from Alameda Excessive in 1957 and continued enjoying baseball when he went on to Contra Costa Faculty after which Fresno State Faculty (now Fresno State College).
Whereas in faculty — and even after graduating — Sherratt continued his Alameda involvement as a park director for the ARPD and went on to the previous Haight Center College to start an training profession of greater than 4 a long time within the Alameda Unified College District (AUSD).
After incomes an administrative credential and grasp’s diploma from what was then Cal State Hayward, Sherratt grew to become a vice principal at Wooden Center College. Throughout this time, Sherratt met Margie Burns, a instructor at Wooden Center. They married on Oct. 21, 1972, and have become a household with Don’s daughter, Heidi. The Sherratts later added three extra youngsters to the household: Jennifer Lyn, Pleasure Burns and Jeffrey Donald.
Persevering with with the AUSD, Sherratt served as principal at Woodstock Elementary and Chipman Center colleges in addition to vice principal at Alameda Excessive. He later served because the district’s director of personnel and human sources earlier than retiring in 2001.
Sherratt had additionally served on the board of the administrators for the ABGC since 1982 (and as board president in 1986-87). He served too on the Alameda Recreation Fee, with the Alameda Little League and for 12 years as a director on the Alameda County Truthful Board.
A 40-year member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Sherratt extra not too long ago served on the AHS Athletic Corridor of Fame Board. He additionally was the marketing campaign chairman for the 2014 college bond Measure I, which Alameda voters handed.
To honor Sherratt, the ABGC has named its new faculty and profession readiness middle the Don Sherratt Diplomas to Levels Middle, which is able to function year-round to make sure that college students obtain assist and sources to go to school.
Along with Margie, his spouse of greater than 50 years, and his brother and sister-in-law, Wealthy and Susan Sherratt, Don Sherratt is survived by his youngsters (and their spouses), Heidi Sherratt Bogart (Scott), Jennifer Sherratt Abrahamson, Pleasure Sherratt Branson (Chris) and Jeff Sherratt (Elisabeth).
Additionally surviving him are grandchildren Brewer Bogart, Aidan and Brooke Abrahamson, Colby Reyes Branson, Maggie and Callum Branson and Logan and Olivia Sherratt, in addition to his many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Don Sherratt was preceded in demise by his mother and father and by his son-in-law, Eric Abrahamson.
To honor Don Sherratt’s reminiscence, donations may be made to the Don Sherratt Diplomas to Levels (D2D) program on the Alameda Boys and Ladies Membership, 1900 Third St. Alameda, CA 94501.
Mike McGreehan is a former sports activities author for the Bay Space Information Group who particularly enjoys soccer and baseball.
