Goodbye to Norm Sherman
The Principal of P.S. 201, Norm Sherman, has passed away.
And the strange thing is, I was thinking about him around the time it happened.
I worked at P.S. 201 from 1987 until my retirement in 2004. I was blessed to have Norm as the Principal for a part of those years. When others assumed the role, it was never the same; his retirement left a huge void in the school, no one could fill his shoes.
As a member of The School Based Support Team during that time, we would have a weekly meeting with Norm who would greet us with treats and a joke. If we would bring treats, he would be tempted and often say, “Please don’t feed the principal.”
At these meetings we would discuss the most difficult of cases. P.S. 201 had an ever-growing needy population and we would become saddened and overwhelmed, sometimes deluged by the pain and suffering.
To break up the heaviness, Norm would often read the team a children’s book and that is how I learned about the books written by Robert Munsch. After I heard him read, “Thomas’ Snowsuit,” I had to get every book written by Munsch—for myself. One Munsch book was particularly touching; “I’ll Love You Forever.” It tells the story of the circle of life and how the child becomes the parent. I know that all too well.
To Norm, we say, “we’ll love you forever, “and if it should be cold where you are going, please don’t forget to take your snowsuit.”
Let’s have story time in honor of Norm: Please visit these sites and listen to the stories:
Thomas’ Snowsuit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD6yqSkQ0mg
I’ll Love You Forever
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70aHBZEbrxo
The last time I saw Norm was years ago at a funeral and we ended up sitting together. He saw that I had an interesting pen, and being that he was a pen collector, and as we have learned in his eulogies, he was a curious man who loved to learn, he decided to dissect my pen during the funeral service. With a twist and a pull, my pen opened and with that, the spring went flying with a BOING! And the refill dropped to the floor. Try to keep a straight face during a funeral with that going on.
The spring was never to be seen again. The refill no longer had the support to stay put.
My pen was forever changed and unworkable.
The pen sums up life: we are born and we bloom, opening to life. Writing our story. Life goes on but all of a sudden there is a BOING! Our spring is released, under pressure, and leaves; it is irretrievable. And sadly, there are no refills.
Loss.
For those of us left behind, it happens too soon, it’s all too much of a surprise, a shock, and something we are never ready to have happen or to face.
But luckily for us, G-d created memories.
This one is a blessing.
My sincere condolences to the family.
I shared this with my friend Cynthia, who told me she had all the Munsch books because Norm was her professor at Queens College for her Early Childhood masters over 28 years ago.
She had so many memorable stories and said, “Norm lit up our minds with the most humorous, relatable and teachable storybooks. He inspired my teaching and thank you for stimulating these memories of a fabulous educator.”
Thank you Sue for sharing your memories of Norm Sherman. His legacy as principal is the stuff that made the NYC BOE great! As a kindergarten teacher, I read hundreds of childrens storybooks. However I never read those until now. Through your writing, I am learning something new and beautiful from Norm. ❤️🙏❤️
Comments from my post on Facebook
Lisa Miller
I worked as a special education reading teacher, filling a one year leave, ( circa 1984 or 1985 I think)during my short Board of Ed career. Mr. Sherman was a wonderful principal. I remember him with great fondness. I was only there one year though. It was a very nice school though a long commute. I just remember I rode from Manhattan sometimes with Judy Rubin.
Phyllis Eisenson
Norm was so sweet, and so sad when Sylvia died. She had great love for him, and I could see why. His memory is a blessing to many…♥️♥️
Maria Pittelli-Gaudiosi
My best years at 201 were when Norm was Principal! So many memories with amazing colleagues, too! You were the best! Loved Sylvia too!
Nancy K.
Beautiful memories about Norm Sherman
Denise Gunter
Very touching Sue. Norm was indeed a gentle giant. I remember the stories that he would read to the teachers at faculty meetings. I borrowed this idea when I became an assistant principal at P120Q. I would read excerpts from a favorite children’s book or a poem as part of my graduation speeches. Norm would sometimes get red in the face but I never heard him scream. He always tried to figure out what the problem was and used a collaborative approach to solve it. The last time I saw Norm was at a retirement party for a fellow colleague. He was still the same gentle giant and gregarious Norm and greeted me with a big smile and an even bigger hug! He will be missed but the lives that he touched have been blessed by his presence.
Alain B.
My condolences to the family and how fortunate to have much a wonderful Principal.Love You Forever is truly a beautiful book.
Jacqueline S.
Sorry to learn of the passing of Mr. Norm Sherman, Principal of PS 201Q. You wrote a very heartfelt and lovely remembrance of him. My sincere condolences to his family.