Jerome (Jerry) Irwin Sherman, age 76, passed away Sept. 12 after courageously battling a brief illness. His family and friends were with him until his last day and his family was by his side when he peacefully passed. Mr. Sherman was the beloved husband of Janet Shilling Sherman; dear father and father-in-law of Jennifer Sherman Pickard and Michael Pickard of Centerville; David Sherman of Austin, Texas; Lailah Shima (formerly Laura Sherman) of Madison, Wisc.; brother of Joan Washburn of Roseland, N.J.; dear grandfather of Sam Pickard, Emma Pickard, Mayana Ford, Akasha Ford; brother-in-law of Rob and June Shilling of Denver, and Lew and Sara Shilling Zirkle of Richland, Wash. He was born Nov. 9, 1934 in Springfield, Mass., the son of Morris and Berta Rubin Sherman. Mr. Sherman graduated from Cornell University and attended the Wharton School of Business. He worked for McCall Corporation before coming to Dayton in 1962 when he co-founded Daytex Corporation, a company of retail fabric stores operating as The House of Fabrics. In the ‘80s, he founded Star Data Systems, a company that distributed computer software that he designed. He served twice in the U.S. Army Reserves. His second tour of duty was precipitated by the Cuban Missile Crisis. Mr. Sherman was a founding member of Temple Beth Or, where he held several positions, including board member, through his more than 25-year loyal membership. A longtime patron of the arts, Mr. Sherman loved attending opera, theatre and musical performances in Dayton, Cincinnati and London. He loved his family dearly and lived the life he wanted. Interment was at David’s Cemetery. The family would gratefully appreciate donations made to Temple Beth Or, or to The Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Ave., Dayton, OH 45420.