Bob Sherlock Remembrance by his sister, Trish Sherlock
In our family there is a 12-year age difference between the oldest and the youngest. Bob was the youngest and there was a year and half age difference so we were raised together.
We went to the same grammar school, high school and college. We have lived in the same townhouse development, even went to mass and stations together as adults.
When I moved back to NJ we toured houses together; including when I wanted to buy a shore house. Bob and I were buddies throughout our life.
In our family growing up—each person was known for one thing—Barb was the smart one, Bill was athletic, Frank was funny, I was a hard worker, and Bob was the car guy. He loved cars ---Bob and I spent a lot of nights in Swedesboro, NJ with our father going to the Bob Zane’s Chrysler Dealership.
But he was more than a car nut—he was smart (National Honor Society and a Penn Graduate), kind, funny and devoted to his siblings, his family, Pat and his children—Elizabeth and Aaron and their four-legged children and Greg and Arianna’s children—Gunnar & Aila.
My father had a message that was repeated to us a million times growing up of always staying together as a family. Bob was the catalyst of ensuring that happened.
As his big sister, we also enjoyed needling each other in the Sherlock way.
• When he got As in school and I didn’t—I would say the computer made an error to my parents. We would laugh all the time about that one.
• When we played football in the street after dinner, he tackled me on the goal line—I said I had scored—but it was ruled as a failed attempt by my brothers. That’s why we needed instant replay!
• Bob and I would visit our grandparents a lot growing up. One time--my father was driving a TV down to Nana in West Palm Beach—picture this—this large RCA TV in the back seat of the car and Bob and I on either side of the TV. Bob and I were bookends to hold the TV in place for 1200 miles. My muscles still haven’t recovered from that trip!
I want to share one last story which bonded us for life.
We were watching Jack Paar as 10-year-olds. Parr had Elaine May and Mike Nichols on and they did a famous skit called: $65 Funeral. I am not kidding. You can still see it on YouTube. It is a classic.
Elaine May is the funeral director and Mike Nichols is the grieving family member who has seen an ad in TV Guide for a $65 funeral.
The skit was about the absurdity of how funeral services were marketed and sold at that time.
After the customer pays the $65, the funeral director says to customer: Now, do you want casket? The customer says, how much is a casket? The funeral director says—gold $1295, silver $695 and nubby pine wood is $14.95. Then the customer asks how does the $14.95 one look? The funeral director says cheap!
Bob and I laughed so hard we cried. It is a hilarious routine that we often quoted throughout our lives.
Sixty years later when Bob was in the hospital, one day he says to me remember the $65 funeral skit---boy was that funny—and we laughed again just as we did as kids.
Bob, I am sure you are making Mom and Dad laugh and we will miss laughing with you greatly.