Dr. AJ August Joseph Sherman

August, affectionately known to friends and family as “AJ” or “Ace,” was born August 5th of 1934 to Francis Sarah Durso and Vincent Emmanuel Caserta in New Orleans, Louisiana. After his father’s death in April of 1937, AJ and his mother moved back to her hometown of Port Arthur, Texas. In 1941, his mother remarried to Anthony William Sherman, who later shared his surname after adopting AJ. AJ graduated from Bishop Byrne High School in Port Arthur in 1951 at the age of sixteen. He went on to put himself through college at Lamar Tech College - and later dental school at The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston where he was a member of the XI PSI PHI Dental School Fraternity. In 1958, AJ graduated from dental school. After graduation in 1958, AJ joined the Air Force and served two years before being Honorably Discharged as Captain in 1960. It was here at the Air Force Base in Roswell, New Mexico where he met Elaine Yvone Vaneff. The two were married in Port Arthur, Texas on May 20, 1961 at St. James Catholic Church. Together, AJ and Elaine welcomed son Vincent Anthony, daughter Sarah Ann, and son John Vaneff. During his years as a dentist, AJ was a Life Member of the Texas Dental Association, served as President of the Sabine District Dental Society from 1982 to 1983, and was recognized by the Texas Dental Association for 50 years of service in May of 2008. AJ practiced dentistry for 59 years, retiring from his practice in Groves, Texas in 2017. In 2018, he and Elaine moved to Georgetown where his two sons and their families reside.

AJ loved to work with his hands and consistently had multiple projects keeping him occupied in his free time. When he was not tinkering with home projects, AJ could be found watching Texas Longhorn football or in Louisiana at the casinos. He was also an avid birdwatcher and enjoyed traveling with Elaine. As a devoted storyteller, AJ never met a stranger and always had an anecdote at the ready. To all who knew him, AJ was an enthusiastic and reliable helping hand, who had an infectious, booming laugh.

Survivors include his wife of sixty-three years, Elaine Sherman of Georgetown; children, Dr. Vincent Sherman and his wife Sheri of Georgetown, Sarah Sherman of Dallas, and Dr. John Sherman and his wife, Dr. Larissa O’Neil of Georgetown; grandchildren, Rachel Donaldson and her husband Zach, Vincent Sherman II, Sophie Sherman, and Joseph Sherman; great-grandchildren, Ellie and Kaden.

The family would like to thank those at The Help Givers who provided compassionate care to AJ in his last few months. Their kindness and attentiveness are dearly appreciated.

A celebration of life for friends and family will be held Wednesday, January 8 at The Gabriels Funeral Chapel and Crematory in Georgetown from 5-7 p.m. with a Rosary occurring from 6:30-7 p.m. Funeral Mass will be conducted on Thursday, January 9 from 10-11 a.m. at St. Helen Catholic Church in Georgetown. The Burial will happen shortly thereafter at 11 a.m. on January 9 at Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery in Georgetown.