Sheman Moreland III

Sherman Moreland III, 88 years old (January 19, 1929- December 9, 2017) Predeceased by his wife, Barbara Smith Moreland; his parents: Sherman Jr. and Ruth Bennett Moreland. Survived by his beloved children: Beth Bossong (David Beers), Leslie Varrelman (John Lee), Todd Moreland (Tamara); grandchildren: Meagan Bossong (Milton Ferguson), Tessa Moreland Decker (Scott Decker), Jesse Moreland, Matthew Varrelman, Lindsey Varrelman Bush (Curtis Bush); great-grandchildren : Conall Decker and Kymani Ferguson and former sons- in- law: James Bossong, David Varrelman Graduate of Ohio Wesleyan, Cornell College of Arts and Sciences (1951), Cornell Law School (1954),Sherman was also an Army personnel management specialist in France (USA Euro Red Ball Express). Sherman practiced law in Elmira, NY from 1956-2003 and was Chemung County Surrogate Court Manager for 28 years. He was a member of the NYS and Chemung County Bar Associations, as well as serving as chief eulogist for the Chemung County Bar association. Sherm served as a Court appointed Special Advocate for Abused and Neglected Children and was a surrogate decision maker for the NYS Commission on Quality of Care for the Disabled. He was the Jaycee Man of the Year in 1960, active in Rotary for many years, a member of and elder in the Horseheads Presbyterian Church.as well as legal counsel for the Girl Scouts and Chair of the Eagle Scout character court. He was proud of his work as a Horseheads School District Board member and Vice-President, as well as his work as chief negotiator for 3 school districts (Horseheads, Waverly, and Elmira Heights). His belief in lifelong learning manifested itself in being President of the Chemung County School Board association, President of the Southern Tier Education Institute out of Cornell, President of the Chemung Valley Study on Higher Education., and a frequent speaker on educational law for university classes. Very active and passionate about politics, Sherm was County campaign manager for Howard Robison, Chairman of the Horseheads Republican Committee, Chemung County Republican Executive Committee, and was Republican Candidate for Chemung County Children’s Court Judge in 1960. Sherm (Bud to his family and friends) was immensely proud of the accomplishments of his family and of his heritage. His family tree included Ulysses S. Grant and Winston Churchill. His grandfather, Col. Sherman Moreland , Speaker of the NYS Assembly, (famous for the trial for the court martial of Billy Mitchell and the NYS Moreland Act) was friends with Mark Twain, Pres. Woodrow Wilson, Charles Evans Hughes, and other dignitaries and schooled his grandson at an early age about politics and law and deep intellectual thought. These talks contributed to Sherm’s intense political activism and strong beliefs in social justice and reform, far ahead of his time. Sherm loved to read, write about and discuss politics and he stayed current with an active mind, protesting fracking and the penal system. His numerous letters to the editor in several papers were read by many and invited comment, locally and nationally. A lifelong Republican, at 80, filled with disillusionment about corporate greed and the 1% ers, he changed to the Democratic Party and spoke out about his reason for change. He never missed his children’s concerts, ballet recitals, football or baseball games, as well as the horse shows and gymnastic meets of his grandchildren. We have wonderful memories of our dad’s childlike sense of play and adventure. Neighbors and friends remember his neighborhood bonfires, his making a skating rink to skate with us, his toboggan runs with our friends, his snow forts and snowmen, his singing songs with us at bedtime. He had a joie de vivre and loved a good game of bridge, a great manhattan and good food and an occasional cigar. Sherm and Barbara enjoyed theater, dancing, and travel and passed these loves onto us. An avid jazz lover, he especially enjoyed local jazz jams and sharing those with his dear friend, David Beers. David and Sherm could often be seen at Barnes and Noble discussing world events and jazz over a cup of coffee. He was loyal to and remained in touch with his lifelong friends and neighbors. Despite physical adversity with loss of sight, he kept a good attitude and fierce determination to be as independent as possible. In addition to Beth and Dave, his friends at the Hearth helped him to do that. Special thanks to the Lourdes Hospice team and to UHS Palliative Care.
The Family will receive friends at the Allen Memorial Home, 511-513 East Main Street, Friday from 4-7 pm. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Sherm’s memory to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier (388 Upper Oakwood Avenue, Elmira, NY 14903), Special Olympics, New Jersey, www.sonj.org, Doctors Without Borders (www.doctorswithout borders.org), or the Lourdes Hospice (4102 Old Vestal Road, Vestal, NY 13850).