James P McSherry of Cambridge, previously of Southborough and Worcester, died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at Rogerson House, an assisted living residence for people with Alzheimer’s Disease where he received outstanding care and love for the last sixteen months of his life. Born in Worcester in 1931 to Frank and Marguerite McSherry, Jim attended Worcester State College Class of ‘53, and was later awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration by the College in 1977. He then pursued Masters and Doctorate degrees at Boston College in Psychology and completed his course of study in 1962. After serving in the U.S. Army and as a school psychologist for the Worcester Public Schools, Jim became an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Education at the University of Scranton. In 1964, Jim shifted his direction to the private sector and became a Partner at Rohrer, Hibler and Replogle, where he served as a corporate psychologist. He then went on to become Vice President for Corporate Development at United Shoe Machine Corp and, later, Vice President of Personnel for PepsiCo Inc. In 1977, Jim made the decision to go into private practice as a consulting psychologist and remained in this practice for thirty years. Among his many clients was Mead Corporation, with whom he worked for many years and where he formed several lasting professional and personal relationships. Jim met Noreen Riordan of Worcester when they were both acting in an amateur performance of Joan of Lorraine with the Cathedral Players. Jim and Noreen were married in 1957 and had four beloved children during the course of their many happy years together. Much to the family’s great sorrow, Noreen died in 1988 of a brain tumor. In 1991, Jim met Jill Herold of Cambridge on a flight from Boston to Philadelphia and went on to have a twenty six year relationship, marrying in 2007. During the course of Jim and Jill’s relationship, fifteen grandchildren were born to their respective children and each and every one brought Jim enormous joy and pride. Jim loved to impress his grandchildren by claiming to be the World’s Greatest All-Around-Average Athlete and backed this up with endless stories of his days playing semi-pro football, catching for his US Army baseball team, shooting hoops with undergraduates in his 70’s, winning downhill senior ski races, and his skill and passion for golf. Jim is survived by his wife Jill, his brother Walter T. of Somerville, his son James P. McSherry Jr. of Stoneham, his daughter Noreen Ann Sullivan of Hendersonville NC, his son William F McSherry and partner Sharron Eastman of Kennebunk ME, and his daughter Kennera M King and husband Brendan of Princeton. Jim is also survived by Jill’s daughters Gretchen Nelson and husband Paul of Concord, and Erica Harris and husband Thomas of Cambridge. Grandchildren include Aidan and Ronan Sullivan; Hope McSherry, Hannah and Elsie Eastman; John, Catherine, Margaret and Finbar King; Julia, Henry and Peter Nelson; Lilly Senna and Evelyn and Thomas Harris. A wake will be held at John C Burns Funeral Home, 305 Broadway, Cambridge from 4-7 on Thursday, February 16 and the funeral will be at 11 AM on Friday, February 17 at Prince of Peace Church in Princeton, MA at the intersection of routes 31 and 62. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Worcester State Foundation with The James P. McSherry '53 Endowed Scholarship in memo field and sent to Worcester State University, 486 Chandler Street, Worcester MA 01602; or, The Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Peasant St, Watertown MA 02472. www.burnsfuneralhomes.com