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of others and find the strength to keep
going. And the tremendous support
she received from her husband – not
to mention her many friends as well
– sustained her throughout her career.
Dave went with her to international
conferences as far away as Perth,
Australia, read drafts of her work, and
supported her in countless ways.
Sherri was diagnosed with breast
cancer in 2009, which went into
remission with treatment. In August
2013 she was diagnosed with an
unrelated Stage IV pancreatic cancer
that had metastasized to her lungs and
liver. Her devotion to science was so deep that she participated in not one
but three clinical trials, in the hopes, of course, of a cure, but if not, at least of
contributing even then to the furthering of knowledge.
At the time of her diagnosis Sherri and Dave invited me over for a visit,
and then another. It soon became a regular thing every other weekend for the
two-and-a-half years of her illness. I mention this only because it allowed me
to see how Dave stepped up – and how supportive his business, Antech, was in
his devotion to his family.
Dave maintained an informative and even entertaining blog to keep
friends near and far in the know. And I saw how family and friends from near
and far rallied support and made countless meals and sent so much love and
prayers. Zia and Anji, too, were amazingly supportive and affectionate and
understanding. Dave and Sherri both talked to me often about how grateful
they were to everyone and how much it all helped to sustain them.
Like many of you, I had the privilege of witnessing the beauty of Dave
and Sherri’s friendship, their marriage, and their collaboration together, and
admired the balance, outward focus and spiritual depth they had achieved. I
also saw her unwavering faith in the life to come. A couple of weeks before she
passed, she told me that in moments when she was physically alone she had
been sensing a warm, comforting presence in the room with her.
Scientific truth was extremely important to Sherri but was enhanced by
being in balance with spiritual truth; and both kinds of truth shone the most
in the presence of love.
Diversity is important; the evenness of each individual component of the
diversity is important; and balance between them is important.
But I think what Sherri was seeking was something perhaps beyond
Scientific truth was
extremely important
to Sherri but was
enhanced by being in
balance with spiritual
truth; and both kinds
of truth shone the most
in the presence of love.
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