Sherlee’s Obituary Pensacola; Sherlee Holmes Aronson, ardent social justice activist and esteemed public television producer, host and commentator, passed away peacefully on January 29th with her husband by her side. Sherlee was born on September 12, 1931 in Benton Harbor, Michigan and grew up in Chicago. She moved with her family to Palatka, FL in 1947, where she attended Putnam High School and later graduated valedictorian of the nursing school at Alachua General Hospital in Gainesville, FL.
Sherlee met the love of her life, David Aronson, while he was attending the University of Florida. They married in 1952 and moved to Fort Jackson, SC, where he was stationed in the Army. They had their first daughter in 1953 and moved to Auburn, AL, in 1955, where David attended veterinary school and Sherlee worked as a nurse for four years at Lee County Hospital, Opelika, AL.
While at Auburn, they had two sons, one born in 1956 and the other in 1958. In 1959, after David graduated from veterinary school, they moved to Pensacola, FL, where he started his veterinary medical practice. They had their fourth child, a daughter, in 1960.
While busy raising a family, Sherlee volunteered for the Girl Scouts, YWCA and PTA. In 1962, she became active with the League of Women Voters (LWV), served as president of the Pensacola Bay LWV, a member of the Florida state board, and chair of the environmental committee. Sherlee was also very involved with the Manna Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity and the Council on Aging.
In 1973, she was asked to give a presentation on safeguarding the environment in Florida at the PBS affiliate, WSRE-TV, in Pensacola. They were so impressed that they offered her a full-time position. In 1981, Sherlee was appointed by Florida Governor Reuben Askew to the Galvez Commission, and also worked on the Save our Beaches initiative.
Grounded in satire and irony, she was a creative and prolific writer as the co-author and director of (among others) the LWV productions of Brick Bats and Roses. For over 20 years, Sherlee served as a producer, host and commentator at WSRE-TV for such programs as Open Forum, candidate rallies and one-on-one interviews of public figures, authors and celebrities. Over the course of her career, Sherlee was the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including recognition for 50+ years of service as a member of the LWV.
Her good deeds and passionate commitment to leaving the world a better place than she found it will be remembered by all. She was an inspiration to many and validator of her belief that women have the right for equal standing in our world. Sherlee was a woman with strong convictions and always expressed her mind with respect to remaining objective and fair on her programs.
Toward the end of her career, she decided to complete her college education, and received a BA degree, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of West Florida in 1987. Sherlee was an avid and competitive tennis player, enjoyed camping and traveling with family throughout North America and around the world. She cherished her annual trips to New York City to enjoy the best of Broadway and take advantage of the city’s many cultural offerings.
As long-time members of Temple Beth-El, Sherlee and David were devoted to raising their children in a warm and welcoming home steeped in Jewish values. Sherlee loved to read, laugh, dance and sing and so many were captivated by her infectious smile. Sherlee was preceded in death by her two sisters, Joan Peterson and Geri Evans.
She is survived by her loving husband David; her children, Cyndi (Steve) deKruif – Anaheim, CA, Randy Aronson – Pensacola, FL, Danny (Joanne) Aronson – Miami Beach, FL, and Judi (Berry) Patrick – Washington, DC; her grandchildren, Jake (Stacy) Patrick, Jordan Patrick, Justin Patrick, Josh Aronson, Sandy (Sarah) Aronson, and Joseph Patrick; and one great grandson, Blake Patrick; as well as nieces, nephews, and many close and devoted friends. Funeral Services will be held at 1:30 pm on Sunday, February 3, 2019, at Temple Beth-El with Rabbi Joel Fleekop officiating. Interment and reception to follow.
Pallbearers will be grandsons Jake, Jordan, Justin, Josh, Sandy, and Joseph, and close family friends Bruce, Mark and Jeff Kraselsky. To honor Sherlee’s memory, and in lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to: Manna Food Bank – www. mannahelps.org/; League of Women Voters Education Fund – www.
lwvfl.org/how-you-can-help/; Habitat for Humanity -pensacolahabitat.org/donate/; or Council on Aging – www. coawfla.org/donate-to-council-on-aging/. May Sherlee’s memory be a blessing.
WATERS & HIBBERT FUNERAL HOME is in charge of arrangements.
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