Hillel Remembers Palmer-Sherman

More than one hundred friends and family members gathered in Harvard Hillel’s Beren Hall yesterday afternoon to remember Shira B. Palmer-Sherman ’02, who died last December after being struck by a car on Eliot St.

Yesterday’s memorial service marked the Jewish yahrtzeit, a day of prayer and remembrance to honor the first anniversary of a death.

Palmer-Sherman was a history and literature concentrator in Pforzheimer House from Englewood, N.J. She had been very active in Hillel and various theatrical productions before her death.

This past summer, Hillel established the Shira Palmer-Sherman Memorial Fund, to benefit theater and other activities Palmer-Sherman “cared deeply about,” said Benjamin Z. Galper ’02, chair of Hillel’s Coordinating Council.

Galper began yesterday’s service by describing what Palmer-Sherman had meant to him personally.

“She had such an unbreakable, determined spirit,” he said. “She taught me so much about my religion.”

Galper said Palmer-Sherman was “a perfect friend” who was highly considerate of others.

“She always put her friends before herself. She knew life, and especially friendship, were just too important to waste,” he said.

After Galper’s remarks, friends said Kaddish, a prayer for the deceased, in both Hebrew and English.

David C. Dydek ’02 said Palmer-Sherman’s capacity for love was her greatest gift.

“Unconditional love was what she gave to her friends, family and all who knew her. She always made others feel love, and she always made other feel comfortable expressing their love,” he said.

Dydek said he is grateful that time has helped to heal his pain after Palmer-Sherman’s death a year ago.

“Just as we thank God for the gift of Shira’s life, we must thank him for the gift of time,” he said.

Dr. Bernard Steinberg, the executive director of the Harvard Hillel, then led family and friends in saying a prayer for the departed soul.

Close friend Michael J. Schultz ’02 said he remembered the quality of Palmer-Sherman’s presence.

“Her characteristic kindness and energy showed the spark of God that was inside her,” he said.

After the memorial service yesterday, friends and family presented and lit a Menorah in memory of Palmer-Sherman to commemorate the first night of Hanukkah.

“It is especially fitting that we should make a dedication to Shira on Hanukkah,” Schultz said. “She was a light for all of us.”

—Crimson staff writer Duncan M. Currie can be reached at dcurrie@fas.harvard.edu.