J. SHERMAN McLAUGHLIN

J. Sherman McLaughlin, of Edgewood, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 15, 2017. He was 85 years old.

Sherman was the beloved husband of Suzanne Shaver McLaughlin and beloved father of Dorothy McLaughlin (Joel Sachs), Sarah Lee (Adam), and Martha Schloetzer (Jason). He loved and was proud of his grandchildren: Norah Sachs, Luke Schloetzer Alice Lee, Julia Lee, Arlo Harvey Sachs, and Nicolas Lee. His mother and father, Dorothy Schrecongost and John Harvey McLaughlin, his brothers Keith and Richard, and his grandchildren Alice and Nicolas Lee preceded him in death.

Sherman graduated from the Edgewood schools with highest honors in 1950 and was the first member of his family to attend a four-year college, graduating from Harvard College, cum laude, in 1954, and from Harvard Law School in 1957. Following his graduation from law school, he joined the firm of Reed Smith Shaw & McClay where he practiced law for over 50 years. In addition to his work at Reed Smith, Sherman served for a decade as the Justice of the Peace of Edgewood Borough. He was an emeritus member of the American Law Institute and Emeritus Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.

Sherman loved Pittsburgh and participated extensively in the community, focusing especially on the arts and education. Very dear to him were the Carnegie Institute, Carnegie Museum of Art, and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, and he was a life trustee and then an emeritus life trustee of all three. He was also a past member of the board of trustees of the Pittsburgh Symphony.

A man devoted to quality education for all, Sherman served as a founding member of the Fund for the Advancement of Minorities through Education ("FAME") and for many years as a member and president of the Board of Trustees of the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. He also served as trustee, Board President, and Interim Head of the Winchester-Thurston School and was elected the first honorary alumnus by its alumnae. Of his many great memories of being involved with WT, particularly special to him was the responsibility he had, as Interim Head of School, of deciding whether to close the school for a snow day.

From 1957 until 1979, McLaughlin was a member of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. At his retirement, he held the rank of colonel in the Pennsylvania Guard and Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force reserve, serving as Judge Advocate of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard.

In addition to being a 5-star dad, devoted husband, passionate contributor to the community, and much-respected attorney, McLaughlin loved gardening, opera, reading, traveling, and laughing. He will be remembered fondly, especially for his optimism, wisdom, and sense of humor.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 22, at South Avenue United Methodist Church in Wilkinsburg, 733 South Ave. The family will receive friends beginning at 12:30 p.m. in the Wesley Room, and the memorial service will start at 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Sherman's memory may be made to FAME, Winchester Thurston School, the Carnegie Institute, or a charity of one's choice.