Shirley S Sargent

Her birth name was Shirley Anne Shepherd, born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, May 11, 1937. She attended Garden City High School in Long Island, New York where she was a cheerleader, chosen to attend Girls State Leadership Session, and was voted “Most Popular” in her graduating class. She then attended Ohio Wesleyan University where she was Freshman Class Secretary, a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority, and received her Bachelor of Arts in 1959 in sociology and education. It was at Ohio Wesleyan that she met Frank Sargent, whom she married in 1960. Sherry became a teacher and taught at Fishinger Road Elementary School in Columbus, Ohio.

In 1970, Sherry, Frank and their four children moved to Cherry Hills Village, with their children attending Cherry Hills Elementary School. Sherry joined the PTCO and started the annual science fair. While the Sargent children went on to West Middle School and Cherry Creek High School, Sherry was active in the parent groups and enrichment opportunities. A fan of opera, she brought Opera Colorado singers to the schools. She also helped establish a drug counselor position at CCHS. Out of that seed grew what are now the Community Asset Building Committee and the Fall Fitness Program. That program went on to include all of the district schools as well as the surrounding community at large. Sherry supported anti-drug programs, including Drug Free America, Smart Colorado, and DARE.

Sherry also helped start Red Ribbon Week, a drug and alcohol education and awareness program in the schools, which has spread to the rest of the state. The Cherry Creek High School After Prom Parties were also started by Sherry and several other parents, after they realized that students needed a safe place to go after the prom festivities were over.

In 2005, she helped the University Hills Rotary Club start the character building Rotary 4-Way Test Program at West Middle School, a program that teaches the importance of telling the truth and treating others with respect. She was involved with Rotary International as a non-member district committee member, and as wife active supporter of Frank, while he was Rotary District Governor 2006-2007, in charge of 59 area Rotary clubs.

In 1978, Sherry was in on the ground floor, with other concerned parents, of what has developed into the Parent Information Network, PIN, a Cherry Creek School District organization that is supported by the Superintendent, staff and parent representatives from each school in CCSD. The goal of PIN, since its inception, is to be a forum for informing parents on current issues impacting youth and parenting. PIN is the managing vehicle for the annual Sherry Shepherd Sargent Scholarship. The Cherry Creek Schools Foundation oversees the funding of the scholarship. The SSS Scholarship awards money towards college to a senior student in the district who exemplifies the values that Sherry held dear: education, community involvement, embodiment of “Service above Self”, and a positive and joyful spirit that encourages friendship and improves the community. More information about PIN and the SSS Scholarship can be found on the web site www.pinccsd.org.

When Cherry Creek Schools Superintendent, Monte Moses was named National Superintendent of the Year in 2007, Moses said that PIN was a major factor in him being honored.

Sherry was involved in the Denver Lyric Opera Guild, University of Denver Lamont Society, Opera Colorado.

Sherry is survived by her husband of 55 years, Dr. Frank Sargent; son Craig Sargent and wife Laura and their children, Victoria and Taylor; son Jim Sargent and wife Kristi and their children, Kylie and Luke; daughter Linda Sargent and her children, Courtney and Abbey Wegner; son Stephen Sargent and wife Laura and their children, Savannah, Nicholas and Grace.

The Sargent family belongs to Hope United Methodist Church where Sherry helped with Vacation Bible School programs.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Cherry Creek Schools Foundation and marked for the Sherry Shepherd Sargent Scholarship. Donations can be sent to: Cherry Creek Schools Foundation, Attn: Sherry Shepherd Sargent Scholarship, 4700 S. Yosemite St, Suite 130, Greenwood Village, CO 80111. Online donations can be made at www.ccsdfoundation.org/donate.

To celebrate Sherry’s life, a visitation will be at Hope United Methodist Church, Sunday, August 2nd from 4pm-7pm. Friends are welcome to visit with the family during this time. A memorial service will be held on Aug 3rd at noon, also at Hope United Methodist Church.

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”

-Aesop