Stuart N. Sherk

January 31, 1935 - June 20, 2017

Stuart N. Sherk of Chesterbrook, Wayne, PA and Bay Head, NJ passed on June 20, 2017. Stuart graduated in 1953 from Shillington High School (Shillington, PA) where he had been involved in Student Council, the newspaper, music, and drama among other activities. Majoring in Physics, he attended Lehigh University where he pledged Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and was granted a Fellowship to study abroad. Upon graduation, he served at Fort Eustis, VA, in the Army’s Transportation Research Command. Receiving his honorable discharge, Stuart was hired by General Electric, first working in their Medical Division designing several medical implements which were later patented. Subsequently hired by General Electric’s Missile and Space Vehicle Department, Stuart was a Design Engineer, a Terranaut (one of the four "terranauts" who operated a full-scale space station for 30 days in an outer-space simulating chamber at GE's Space Technology Center), Crew Systems Engineer, Development Engineer, Program Manager, and Project Engineer. At Valley Forge Manufacturing, where he oversaw the production of written and audio-visual technical and service training materials for Subaru, BMW, GM, MAACO, and others, Stuart was Senior Mechanical Engineer, Senior Technical Writer, and Mechanical Systems Manager. At Robert Scharff and Assoc., Stuart managed the production of promotional products for industry, ranging from brochures to booklets, and textbooks and audio-visual and video training programs. Leaving this company, Stuart founded his own technical publications company Prentice Associates where he continued producing written and audio-visual technical and service training materials. An avid skier, Stuart was a member of the National Ski Patrol and could be seen many weekends at local Pocono or New England ski resorts. His love for skiing continued for many decades as he became a member of the Merck, Main Line, and King of Prussia Ski Clubs. Never one to stand still and interested in all things mechanical, Stuart also enjoyed his British motorcycles, always looking for a local club that was sponsoring a Poker Run. He enjoyed cars and was always going to Carlisle, Hershey, and other local car shows. He was also a multi-rated aircraft pilot who enjoyed flying his Cessna 172 Skyhawk to St. Michaels, MD for crabs at the Crab Claw and taking numerous trips up and down the East Coast. He also enjoyed attending military air shows, and the WW II Weekend at Reading’s Mid Atlantic Air Museum’s was one of his favorites. Perhaps, Stuart’s favorite place was the north Barnegat Bay area, where he could be found most summer weekends lovingly working on his vintage 1928 Morton Johnson Houseboat, entertaining his friends aboard, or putzing around the Bay in one of his smaller boats. Stuart was also a member of the Bay Head Yacht Club where for many years he served on the Senior Sailing Patrol Boats. Stuart’s love of and enthusiasm for wooden boats was contagious. He was a founding Member of the local Barnegat Bay Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society, also serving as Boat Show Chairman and Chapter President for many years. He was also a founding Member and Trustee of the New Jersey Museum of Boating, and a Member and Trustee of the Matthews Boat Owners’ Association. Stuart took numerous trips to Newport, RI; St. Michaels, MD; Toms River, Tuckerton, and Stone Harbor, NJ; Mystic, CT; Lake Champlain, VT; Clayton, NY – all in supporting local wooden boat shows. Stuart is survived by: his nephews Thomas Murphy of West Chester, PA, David Murphy of Phoenixville, PA; his niece Lois Whitney of King of Prussia, PA; and his beloved companion of 38 years, Joyce Turner. Relatives and friends may pay respects on Tuesday, October 10th from 12noon-2pm at the William A. Moore Funeral Home, 708 Fayette St., Conshohocken, PA 19428. Interment is private at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send a contribution in Stuart’s memory to the ACBS Scholarship Endowment Fund, ℅ ACBS Headquarters, 422 James, St., Clayton, NY (315)-686-2628. OR to his Fraternity at PHIDELTATHETA.ORG/DONATE.