Peter Sherrard

A good man, Peter Andrew Douglas Sherrard, 86, died on March 1. Is “good” a good enough word to describe this consummate husband, father, professor, counselor, storyteller, and friend? Yes. Pete’s goodness was manifested in everything he did and everyone he encountered. One of his graduate students from China wrote, “When I woke up this morning there was a Chinese saying in my mind from the Tao that says, hearing the virtual truth/wisdom, I have no regret if I have to die tonight. That is how I feel about our conversation yesterday. I am so grateful and still in awe, feeling like the whole world shifted for me. Thank You!” For those of us who knew and loved Pete, our lives, too, have now shifted with profound gratitude for having this good man share his life with us.
Pete was born on February 28, 1939, in St. Louis, MO. He graduated from Wheaton College in 1961, and earned Masters of Divinity and Theology degrees at Princeton Seminary. He was ordained in 1967 and served Presbyterian Churches in Larchmont, NY and Madison, NJ. He then went on to graduate studies at the University of Massachusetts in counseling psychology, earning his Doctorate of Education in 1973.
His long career as a counselor educator began at Kansas State University as Director of the Counseling Center, then as Director of Training at the counseling center at Southern Illinois University. In 1986, his love for teaching and research brought him to the University of Florida Department of Counselor Education. He retired as Emeritus Professor in 2013.
Pete’s leadership and influence as professor and practitioner earned him Diplomat status in Counseling Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology, and in Marital and Family therapy from the American Board of Family Psychology. His public service included appointments by Governors Lawton Chiles and Jeb Bush to the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling from 1995-2003 where he served as chairperson from1999-2003. He was elected to the American Association of State Counseling Boards in 1999 and served as president from 2000-2001.
Pete cherished his family. Married 62 years, he leaves his beloved wife Jani, daughter Kristi (Todd), son Andy (Kate) and granddaughters Ella and Ansley and step grandson John David.
The farewell service for Pete will be held on March 15 at 3 PM at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1001 NW 98th Street, Gainesville, FL 32606. Condolences may be offered at Milam Funeral Home (milamfh.com).