Friends Mourn Palmer-Sherman

Shira Palmer-Sherman '02, who died Dec. 22 after being struck by a car the week before, was remembered by friends and family her funeral and in informal gatherings over the past two weeks.

Approximately 750 people attended the funeral at the Society for the Advancement of Judaism in Manhattan on Dec 24., with some mourners being turned away at the door to avoid a fire hazard.

Among the mourners were over 100 Harvard students and around an equal number of students from Horace Mann High School, from which Palmer-Sherman graduated in 1998.

"It was terrible what we were there for, but the funeral was actually quite beautiful," said incoming Hillel Chair Benjamin Z. Galper '02, who was a blockmate of Palmer-Sherman. "It was just amazing how many young people were there. At first I was surprised, but I realized that Shira touched so many people in different ways that it just showed how many people loved her."

Following a brief service, several speakers eulogized their lost friend, including Tova A. Serkin '02, a close friend of Palmer-Sherman and a Crimson editor.

"Her devotion as a friend never ceased to amaze me," Serkin said in her eulogy. "Though she could forget about other things...like the time she left a novel in my room first semester freshman year and didn't pick it up until the end of sophomore year, she would never forget about other people."

Hillel has held a number of informal support sessions for friends of Palmer-Sherman, and more are planned for the coming weeks.

"It's hard to see the positives in a situation like this but if you could point to anything it would be the amazing way people have come together," said Lisa F. Stern '02, a friend of Palmer-Sherman.

A Pforzheimer House resident and history and literature concentrator, Palmer-Sherman was active in Hillel and was co-chair of the Hillel Dramatic Society.

A memorial service is planned for the evening of Feb. 1 at Hillel.

There will be also a journal placed in the Hillel lobby for people to share memories of Palmer-Sherman. A communal learning project in memory of Palmer-Sherman and a memorial scholarship in her name are also being planned.

State police are continuing their investigation of the accident before deciding whether to file charges against the driver of the car that struck Palmer-Sherman.

The driver was arrested at the scene on an unrelated charge and later released on bail.

Police also located the driver of a red car that they initially suspected was involved in the accident, but have now determined that the second car was not involved.

Students are encouraged to contact Hillel if they would like to become involved in planning the memorial service or other projects in Palmer-Sherman's memory.

Palmer-Sherman is survived by her parents, Joanne Palmer and Dr. Andrew Sherman, and her sister, Miriam Palmer-Sherman.

--Staff writer Joseph P. Flood can be reached at flood@fas.harvard.edu.