One of my favorite dancing partners is Sherwood Scheim. Of course, it's just a coincidence he happens to be our cover artist this month. A longtime (12 years) resident here at Lakeside, Sherwood is really an amazing guy. Let me share him with you.
Sherwood was born in New York City on February 29, 1924. Not only was it the roaring twenties, but a leap year. He will be celebrating his 20th birthday this coming year and the party promises to be a blast.
Sherwood became an engineer. He entered the service for WWII and when that was over, lived as a civilian in Japan and Korea for a year and in Labrador and Newfoundland for yet another. Then the Berlin Air Lift brought him to Germany, where he was hired to set up radar so American planes could land in the fog in order to bring in needed supplies. The Russians had occupied and cut off all other means of entering the city.
A GI bill allowed our hero to study art in Paris with Fernand Leger for 3 years. He smiles when he tells me about the bohemian life he led there. The interesting thing about Sherwood is that no matter where he went or what he did, there was always a theme of fun and enjoyment. One can't help feel the pleasure Sherwood took out of every aspect of his life.
In Paris he met and married Cecelia and the couple spent the next 10 years enjoying the travel and other perks that came with his new job of setting up radar for the different air forces of Europe (France, Italy and Germany). Some of the countries they visited were Spain, Turkey and Morocco. Sherwood makes little of the importance of the work he was doing and a whole lot of how much fun and money that cushy job provided.
In Spain Sherwood met the famous bullfighter Juan Belmonte, who allowed him to practice in a small bullring at his house. We laughed as he told the story of how he was sent airborne by an animal that was blind in one eye and kept coming on his left side. "The joke was on me, the experts could see what was happening, but not me." Luckily there was no major injury. Sherwood giggles, "I was so hung over, I couldn't get hurt." Altogether Sherwood spent 16 years living and working in Europe and loving every moment of it.
A son, Charles was born in Spain in 1961 and another, Eric later in Germany. So in 1964 the little family went back to New York. There, Sherwood went to work for Grumman Aerospace in program management until he retired in 1989. With the kids gone, their job done, off to Mexico the couple went to enjoy the rest of the story. In 1998 Cecilia passed away. Sherwood still lives in their house on the mountain.
Some years back, Sherwood was encouraged by a bridge partner to enter his work at the Ajijic Art Society juried show, where he won first place and best in show. Since then, he has been painting and won ribbons at almost every show.
For fun Sherwood still plays bridge, dances at every opportunity, paints and cooks European-style meals for friends. He is always entertaining. Last week the menu was Thai shrimp-mango salad and polenta. You can see Sherwood's work at Studio Art near the LCS and at Melanie's restaurant. And you can see him dancing anywhere there is good music. And if "Pretty Woman" is playing, chances are he will be dancing with me.
