Terrance John Sheridan, 78, died peacefully Saturday morning, Dec. 28, 2013, surrounded by his immediate family, at Dove Healthcare South in Eau Claire.
Terry was born in Sparta on June 20, 1935, to William P. and Alice Beryl (Senogles) Sheridan and grew up in a large, close-knit Irish Catholic family in Kendall. After graduating from Kendall High School in 1953, he began studies at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He enlisted in the Army in 1955 and served three years before returning to UW-Platteville, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with an emphasis on English and history. He began his teaching career in Gary, Ind., and taught in Elroy and Wonewoc before starting graduate school at UW-Madison. He earned a master’s degree and PhD in Educational Administration from UW-Madison.
Terry married Florence Palmer on April 8, 1967, at Our Lady of the Wayside Church in Arlington Heights, Ill.
Terry was a middle school principal in Worth, Ill., a high school principal in Lake Mills, Wis., a curriculum coordinator in Delavan, Wis., superintendent of schools in Darlington, Wis., and Lake Mills, Wis., and finally assistant superintendent for curriculum in the Eau Claire Area School District. Terry finished his administrative career as principal at Manz Elementary, and then planned the construction of Meadowview Elementary School before serving as its first principal.
After retiring in 1992, he created and presented workshops for over 15 years to school districts and private sector businesses in the areas of mentoring/coaching employees for success. During this time, he also taught supervisory classes at UW-Madison, UW-Eau Claire and Chippewa Valley Technical College.
Terry served on the Eau Claire City Council from 1996–2000, 2002–2004 and 2006–2007. As a member of the City Council, Terry sponsored a smoke-free dining proposal that became law — the strictest dining ordinance in the state of Wisconsin at that time. Other civic contributions include serving on the Eau Claire Public Library Board, the Housing Authority Board, the Downtown Eau Claire Improvement Board, the Waterways and Parks Commission, the Eau Claire Public Education Foundation Board, Convention and Visitors Bureau Board, Cable Television Advisory Council, Sanitary Landfill Standing Committee and the Family Resource Center Board. He was a charter board member of Literacy Volunteers. He also served on the United Way Board and the Indianhead Girl Scout Council Board. Terry was an Eau Claire Community Foundation Legacy Luncheon honoree in 2008. Most recently, he served on the Police and Fire Commission. He was a life member of the VFW and the American Legion.
Terry served on the community advisory council of Sacred Heart Hospital from 1996–1998 and then on the board of directors from 1998–2008, receiving the Wisconsin Hospital Association Trustee Award in 2006.
As a member of the Eau Claire Noon Kiwanis Club for more than 34 years, he held various positions, including club president and District Lieutenant Governor. Terry had a particular interest in helping to preserve history through the Paul Bunyan Logging Camp in Carson Park. He took pride in frequently being the champion seller of pancake tickets for the annual Kiwanis Club Flapjack Feed.
Terry was an active member of the Newman Parish at the Ecumenical Religious Center, where he taught history to eighth-grade religious education classes for a number of years, and then directed an adult Bible study. He also enjoyed serving The Community Table on his Newman team.
Terry dedicated his life to improving the lives of school children and citizens of Eau Claire. He came out of retirement in 2000 to serve one year as the interim president of CASE, the Catholic Area Schools in Eau Claire. In 2007, he was instrumental in the formation of Clear Vision, an initiative for improving the quality of life in the Chippewa Valley. He once again came out of retirement to serve the Eau Claire Area School District as interim superintendent during the summer and fall of 2012.
He enjoyed traveling with Flo throughout the United States and parts of Europe. He made three trips to Ireland, kissing the Blarney Stone on every visit. He loved walking and golfing with his buddies, especially the day he shot a hole in one. Terry spent countless hours reading about the lives of important historical figures. He loved reminding people how lucky he was to be Irish, and then sharing a favorite joke or story.
Terry was preceded in death by his parents and two of his sisters, Eileen Sheridan Eberhardt and Donna Sheridan Rusche.
Terry will be sadly missed by his best friend and loving wife, Flo, and their two children, Kevin (Kristi) of Vadnais Heights, Minn., and Kathleen of St. Paul, Minn., and two grandchildren, Owen and Nora Sheridan. He is also survived by four sisters, Rita (Steve) Boehrer of Hales Corners, Wis., Joan (Jim) Sartori of Elroy, Annette Thorson of Elroy and Sr. Patricia Sheridan, FSPA, of La Crosse; one brother, William Sheridan of Madison; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. To each of these survivors, he leaves a legacy of the importance of family.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to the Eau Claire Area School District Foundation or the Terry and Flo Sheridan Family Fund at the Eau Claire Community Foundation.
Visitation will be from 4–7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1, at the Newman Parish in the Ecumenical Religious Center, 110 Garfield Ave., Eau Claire. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, with visitation one hour before, with Fr. David Olson presiding and Fr. George R. Szews preaching. Parking is available in the UWEC Hibbard parking lot on the corner of Garfield Avenue and State Street. An inurnment service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, at St. Joseph’s Church Cemetery in Kendall.
