Donald King Sherwood

Donald King Sherwood Resident of San Francisco, San Rafael and Novato California, May 15, 1929-November 10, 2014 is survived by long-time friend and loving companion, Linda Grimes; his sons Richard J. Sherwood and his wife Dana Duren and Donald N. Sherwood and his wife Mandy; grandchildren Taylor Erline (Sherwood) Rockwood and her husband Schuyler, Donald Burgi Sherwood, Alex Isabel Sherwood, and Lily Summer Sherwood. He also leaves behind his first wife and good friend, Rae Jean Sherwood. He is preceded in death by his second wife, Wendy (Koskala) Sherwood. Don (Roll 'em) was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Gertrude King and Donald B. Sherwood and raised in Bronxville New York. He graduated from Rutgers University in 1952 and served in the United States Marine Corp from 1952-1954 including active duty in the Korean War as a 1st Lieutenant. In 1954 he began his career in Insurance at Fireman's Fund. In 1968 he began work for Appalachian Insurance. In 1972 he worked for Swett & Crawford until 1978 when he founded Sherwood's Insurance Services, a successful insurance brokerage. He retired in 1991 as friend and mentor to many. In 1978, Don began sponsoring his sons' softball team, Sherwood's Force, which he continued to support for the remainder of his life and through the completion of the teams 36th season in 2014 over which time period more than 800 games were played by almost 100 players. If a life well lived is reflected in the lives we touch then the life of Donald King Sherwood, as more than a few friends said, was "bigger than life". It is reflected in the waiters and waitresses whose relationship was much more important than the food. It is found in the reaction of three pet store employees who upon hearing the news broke down in tears and shines bright in the words of a dear friend who said "Don was my dearest friend, my surrogate father/grandfather, confidante and fiercest protector" and the friend of a son who said "I feel like my favorite uncle has passed away". And this tribute from a long time ago softball player who said, "because of him there was and is an us." In lieu of flowers donations may go in his name to the American Lung Association and the Marin Humane Society (171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd, Novato, CA 94949). Services will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, November 15, 2014 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2369 Overlook Drive, Walnut Creek, CA.

Under the direction of Keaton's Redwood Chapel, Novato, CA