Charles A. Sherman

Charles Austin Sherman, III (better known by family and all his friends as Peter Sherman) passed away peacefully on May 5, 2016 at his residence in Tampa. He was 94. Peter was born on April 30, 1922 in New York City to Charles Austin Sherman, Jr. and Minerva Arrington. He spent his early years in New York City, then moved to England when his mother married Colonel John Bigelow Dodge to whom Peter was very devoted. In his autobiography, titled Memoirs of Another Time, 1922 - 1956, Peter highlighted Johnny Dodge's extraordinary life, particularly during World War II. Peter attended St. Peter's Court Preparatory School in London and Eton College, near Windsor. During World War II, he served with America's Army Air Corps and performed cultural reactivation responsibilities for the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Forces - Diplomatic Missions to the French and Belgium governments, and finally to the United States military government in Germany. Peter became an excellent tennis player and was a strong competitor on the cricket pitch. Following the war, Peter spent four years as the public relations director for Sir Alexander Korda's London Film Productions. He also served as public relations advisor to the Governor of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and then as a public relations consultant to the Jim Walter home construction corporation. Peter was a co-founder and president of the St. Petersburg Sister City Committee in concert with Tacamatsu, Japan, and co-founder and Executive Director of the St. Petersburg Allied Arts Council. As a friend of Margaret Acheson Stuart, Peter became a leader of the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts from its beginning until it was well established as a premier cultural resource. He served on the committee that selected the architect for the original museum, and in 2000, he was elected to the museum's Board of Trustees. He was a respected advisor to trustees, directors and staff and was one of the museum's best known ambassadors. He was heavily involved in promoting the museum when no staff position existed for that function. Peter served on many boards, including the libraries of Eckerd College and the USF Bayfront Campus. He was also involved for many years with the Hospice of Florida Suncoast and Meals on Wheels. Peter was married to the late Clementine Japour from 1959 to 2003, and then to Starr Culver Weihe from 2010 until his passing. He will always be in our hearts and we will miss his joy, his great curiosity and his enthusiasm for new adventures. He was a very caring gentleman and he demonstrated this in his many years of volunteering and visiting homebound seniors in the St. Petersburg area. Peter had two brothers, David John Bigelow Dodge, who passed away in 2014, and Lionel Arrington Bigelow Dodge, (known to friends and all the family as Tony), who passed away in 2007. He is survived by his beloved wife Starr and her three step children, and was a much loved uncle to 15 nephews and nieces. A memorial service will be held at the Anderson - McQueen Funeral Home at 2201 Dr. MLK Street, North in St. Petersburg on Saturday, June 11 at 1:00 p.m. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Peter's name to the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts and LifePath Hospice in Tampa. For those who wish to donate online, please visit www.memorial-donations.org