Howard S. Sherry

Dr. Howard S. Sherry, 93, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, passed away on November 10, 2024. Howard was born on November 18, 1930, to Irving and Rose Shevitz in New York City. He served in the United States Army from 1951 until his honorable discharge as a Staff Sergeant in January 1954, having served half his tenure in the Korean war. He then achieved his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering at New York University, and his Master of Science and Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry at the State University of New York at Buffalo.

During his undergraduate studies he worked in the admitting office at Lebanon Hospital in the Bronx. It was there, in September 1954, that he met his future wife, Rhoda Horowitz, who worked in the hospital coffee shop. They married in June 1955 and went on to have four children: Alan Michael, Jonathan Bruce, Deborah Lynn, and David Peter. They were married for 58 years. Howard has one grandchild, Benjamin Joseph.

After completing his Bachelor of Science, Howard started his first job at Union Carbide, in Buffalo, New York, where he worked in research. Having developed specialist knowledge in the field of catalysis, after completing his Ph.D. in 1960, Howard joined Mobile Oil Corporation in Princeton, New Jersey, where he ran a zeolite research laboratory. Howard has 19 patents to his name in this field. He spent the last two decades of his career as a General Manager at PQ Corporation, in Valley Forge Pennsylvania, where he created the company’s global zeolite manufacturing business and was promoted to Corporate Vice President.

In 1995, having lived for 24 years in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Howard retired, and he and Rhoda moved to Santa Fe, where they built a rich life. Howard was a life-long oenophile and together Howard and Rhoda wrote a wine column for the Santa Fe New Mexican. Howard also ran the Santa Fe food and wine society The Chaine des Rotisseurs, and he served on the Governing Board of his Eldorado community. 

After the passing of his wife Rhoda, Howard was lucky to find a second love with life partner Susan Macnofsky, of Placitas, New Mexico. Howard and Susan shared many intellectual passions and supported each other in their twilight years. 

Howard was predeceased by his wife Rhoda in 2013, his partner Susan in 2019, and his brother Richard in 2024. He is survived by his four children and his grandchild.

A graveside service will be held November 17, 11 am, at Santa Fe Memorial Gardens, 417 Rodeo Road.