While reading the beautiful memorial tribute to Sherman I was struck by these words: that he lived his life fiercely, and then gently. Nothing I could write, no particular Sherman story I could tell, would come even close to the truth of those words: fiercely, and then gently. To me, those two seemingly disparate strengths were always vitally alive in Sherman. I respected and admired him because of his fierceness, and many times I bore witness to the gentle side of him, his kindness. It is for his kindness to me, and to my family, that I am forever grateful. When my daughter was the only kid he knew who didn’t have a computer, Sherman raised the money to buy her one. When I was 36 years old his wife Julie literally saved my life. I remember talking on the phone to Sherman from the hospital. “Don’t worry,” he said, “we’re going to get you all fixed up and good as new.” When I hung up the phone I began sobbing. Sherman’s words were like a benediction, a guaranteed promise. Because if Sherman Woo said something good would happen, who could ever argue with that? He was so very kind to me, as was Julie and the entire Woo family. My life has been blessed by having known him. And I am so very sad he left so soon. I can imagine him saying that energy can never be destroyed, so surely that beautifully fierce and gentle energy of Sherman’s remains with us all. Bless his good kind heart. ~ Lorian Hemingway