Rev. Charles David Sherrer, C.S.C.

Rev. David Sherrer, C.S.C.

Sept. 21, 1935 - April 13, 2017

NOTRE DAME, IN - Rev. Charles David Sherrer, C.S.C., 81, died at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame, IN on Thursday, April 13, 2017.

He was born on September 21, 1935 in Marion, Ohio, the last of four children of Harold Dee Sherrer and Catherine Fye Sherrer, who preceded him in death. He attended St. Mary's Parochial School for 12 years before applying for admission to Holy Cross and to the University of Notre Dame in 1953. He entered the Novitiate in Jordan, MN, and graduated from Notre Dame in 1958. He was sent to study theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and was ordained a Holy Cross Priest in the chapel of the Collegio di Santa Croce, by Luigi Cardinal Traglia, Vicar Apostolic for Rome, on Dec. 3, 1961.

After returning from studies in Rome in 1962, he spent a year at Notre Dame in pastoral studies. From 1963 to 1964, he was sent to the University of Portland to teach English classes and assist in a residence hall, as well as doing some other pastoral work. He was back at Notre Dame the next year to finish a master's degree in English as part of his preparation for college teaching. From 1965 to 1969, he studied at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he completed doctoral studies.

Fr. Sherrer then happily returned to Portland, where he took up a regular position on the English faculty. By the early 1970s, he was also serving as Chair of the English department. To his surprise, friends in the Congregation who were active in the northeastern part of the country had put his name into the search for a new President of King's College. He made his first trip to Wilkes-Barre, PA in December 1973 and found himself accepting the Board's appointment in January 1974 where he remained until 1981. 

After a sabbatical, Fr. Sherrer returned to the University of Portland in 1982 where he remained until January, 2017 when he came to Holy Cross House at Notre Dame. While at the University of Portland, he served as Dean of the Graduate School until 1987, when he was appointed Academic Vice President. In 1996, Fr. Sherrer returned to full-time teaching and taught introduction to literature courses, as well as courses in Shakespeare, Chaucer, Irish writers, and a course he developed and loved teaching: History and Politics in Fiction. He also served for almost 40 years along with other Holy Cross Priests at Star of the Sea Parish, a parish without a resident priest in the Columbia Gorge in Washington State which he loved doing. He retired from teaching in 2005 and remained in residence at Holy Cross Court, the residence for Holy Cross Religious assigned to the University of Portland.

Preceding him in death are his parents, Harold and Catherine Sherrer; two brothers, Richard P. Sherrer and Dan A. Sherrer; a sister, Jane Sherrer Munson, and a niece, Johannah Sherrer.

He is survived by nieces and nephews and their families: James (Roberta) Munson of Portland, OR; Catherine Sherrer of Crested Butte, CO; Elissa Sherrer (Lawrence) O'Brien of Ashland, Missouri; E. Margaret Sherrer (Francis) O'Grady and Patricia Sherrer, both of Columbus, Ohio; David (Melissa) Sherrer of Millersport, Ohio; Daniel (Julie) Sherrer of Powell, Ohio; Charles (Janice) Sherrer of Houston, Texas and Phyllis Sherrer Butterworth of Marion.

Visitation will be from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, 2017, at Moreau Seminary, Notre Dame, IN, where there will be a Wake Service at 7:30 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the Notre Dame campus on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 3:30 p.m. Burial will be in the community cemetery at Notre Dame. Kaniewski Funeral Home, South Bend, is in charge of the arrangements.

Memorial contributions in support of the mission and ministries of the Congregation of Holy Cross may be made to: United States Province of Priests and Brothers, Office of Development, P.O. Box 765, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0765 or online at donate.holycrossusa.org. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/southbendtribune/obituary.aspx?n=charles-david-sherrer&pid=185119448&fhid=7050#sthash.ni8rqQyx.dpuf