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'''Robert I.''' "'''Rob'''" '''Sherman''' (April 2, 1953<ref>{{cite web | last1=Blumberg | first1=Nick | title=Rob Sherman: Candidate for Congress, 5th District | url=http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2016/10/07/rob-sherman-candidate-congress-5th-district | date=October 7, 2016 | publisher=''[[Chicago Tonight]]'' | accessdate=December 25, 2016}}</ref> – December 9, 2016) was an American political activist, [[perennial candidate]], and businessman. He was known for his role as an [[Illinois]] [[Green Party of the United States|Green Party]] candidate and for his [[atheist]] advocacy and support for [[separation of church and state]].<ref name="Tribune" /> He died in a plane crash outside [[Marengo, Illinois]] on December 9, 2016 at the age of 63.<ref name="Tribune" />
'''Robert I.''' "'''Rob'''" '''Sherman''' (April 2, 1953<ref>{{cite web | last1=Blumberg | first1=Nick | title=Rob Sherman: Candidate for Congress, 5th District | url=http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2016/10/07/rob-sherman-candidate-congress-5th-district | date=October 7, 2016 | publisher=''[[Chicago Tonight]]'' | accessdate=December 25, 2016}}</ref> – December 9, 2016) was an American political activist, [[perennial candidate]], and businessman. He was known for his role as an [[Illinois]] [[Green Party of the United States|Green Party]] candidate, as an atheist and civil rights activist, and for his advocacy of [[separation of church and state]]. He died in a plane crash outside [[Marengo, Illinois]] on December 9, 2016 at the age of 63.<ref>[http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110714/news/707149850/ Abortion protesters demonstrate in suburbs]</ref><ref name="Tribune" />


==Early life and education==
==Biography==
Sherman spent his adolescence in [[Highland Park, Illinois|Highland Park]],<ref name="Tribune"/> and according to a candidate questionnaire, he attended [[National Louis University]], [[Northwestern University]], and [[Harper College]].<ref name="Sun-Times"/>


===Early life===
==Career==
Prior to his political and civil liberties activism, Sherman worked as an office supply dealer, a teacher, at a bank, on a Good Humor truck, and as an office manager for the French consulate. He was also a longtime volunteer for the [[American Red Cross]].<ref name="Tribune"/><ref name="DailyHerald"/>
⚫
Sherman was born and raised a [[Judaism|Jew]].<ref name="Tribune">{{cite web | last1=Briscoe | first1=Tony | last2=Sobol | first2=Rosemary Regina | last3=McCoppin | first3=Robert | title=Noted Atheist Rob Sherman Dies in Plane Crash: 'He Was Dedicated to His Causes' | url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-rob-sherman-plane-crash-met-20161212-story.html | date=December 13, 2016 | publisher=''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' | accessdate=December 13, 2016}}</ref> He stated that he was an atheist since age 9, and that "it became a big deal" when he was 13.<ref name="Sun-Times">{{cite web | last1=O'Donnell | first1=Maureen | last2=Owen | first2=Jordan | title=Atheist Activist, Green Candidate Rob Sherman Dies in Plane Crash | url=http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/marengo-plane-crash-victim-identified-as-robert-sherman/ | date=December 12, 2016 | publisher=''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' | accessdate=December 13, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Traveling"/> He spent his adolescence in [[Highland Park, Illinois|Highland Park]],<ref name="Tribune"/> and according to a candidate questionnaire, he attended [[National Louis University]], [[Northwestern University]], and [[Harper College]].<ref name="Sun-Times"/> He worked as an office supply dealer.<ref name="Tribune"/>


===Atheist advocacy===
===Civil rights advocacy===
In 1981, Sherman listened to a radio speech by [[Madalyn Murray O'Hair]], an activist and founder of [[American Atheists]].<ref name="Traveling">{{cite web | last1=Testa | first1=Adam | title=Who is Rob Sherman, Traveling Atheist? | url=http://thesouthern.com/news/local/who-is-rob-sherman-traveling-atheist/article_e198106c-ada2-11df-9769-001cc4c03286.html | date=August 22, 2010 | publisher=''[[The Southern Illinoisan]]'' | accessdate=December 13, 2016}}</ref> The speech motivated him to join the organization, and he eventually became its Illinois director and national spokesman.<ref name="Traveling"/> He first achieved notoriety on April 1, 1986, when he sued the village of [[Zion, Illinois]] for displaying a Christian cross on a water tower, as well as another property.<ref name="Traveling"/><ref name="DailyHerald"/> The case eventually went to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]] in 1992, which ruled in Sherman's favor and ordered municipalities to drop the use of religious symbols.<ref name="Tribune"/> His success earned him front-page news coverage and invitations to appear on national TV shows, including those of [[Oprah Winfrey]], [[Phil Donahue]] and [[Larry King]].<ref name="Traveling"/><ref name="DailyHerald"/>
In 1981, Sherman listened to a radio speech by [[Madalyn Murray O'Hair]], who successfully won a U.S. Supreme Court in battle in 1959 against mandatory school prayer and Bible readings. Sherman was motivated to join the [[American Atheists]] organization and eventually became its Illinois director and national spokesman.<ref name="Traveling">{{cite web | last1=Testa | first1=Adam | title=Who is Rob Sherman, Traveling Atheist? | url=http://thesouthern.com/news/local/who-is-rob-sherman-traveling-atheist/article_e198106c-ada2-11df-9769-001cc4c03286.html | date=August 22, 2010 | publisher=''[[The Southern Illinoisan]]'' | accessdate=December 13, 2016}}</ref> In 1986, he sued the village of [[Zion, Illinois]] for the mixing of government and religion, for its inclusion of religious symbols on municipal logos, material and property. The case went to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]] in 1992, which ruled in Sherman's favor and ordered municipalities to drop the use of religious symbols.<ref name="Tribune"/> His success earned him front-page news coverage and invitations to appear on national TV shows, including those of [[Oprah Winfrey]], [[Phil Donahue]] and [[Larry King]].<ref name="Traveling"/><ref name="DailyHerald"/>


Sherman frequently received attention in the 1980s and 1990s due to his atheism activism.<ref name="Sun-Times"/> He filed lawsuits against numerous American municipalities, against the [[Boy Scouts of America]] in 1997, and against [[Township High School District 214]] in 2007 for what he considered unconstitutional endorsements of religion.<ref name="Tribune"/><ref name="Sun-Times"/> He was involved in numerous other lawsuits, of which at least one other went to the Supreme Court in the late 2000s.<ref name="HeraldReview"/> Reporter [[Richard Roeper]] said in 1998 that "he has battled towns from South Holland to Deerfield to Zion to Palatine to Highland, Ind., and Wauwatosa, Wis., over public displays of religious symbols on water towers, on government property and on official village seals."<ref name="Sun-Times"/> After 10 years of membership in American Atheists, he formed his own organization, Rob Sherman Advocacy.<ref name="Traveling"/>
Sherman frequently received attention in the 1980s and 1990s due to similar civil rights battles, centered around the separation of church and state. Reporter [[Richard Roeper]] said in 1998, “He has battled towns from South Holland to Deerfield to Zion to Palatine to Highland, Ind., and Wauwatosa, Wis., over public displays of religious symbols on water towers, on government property and on official village seals."<ref name="Sun-Times"/> He filed lawsuits against numerous American municipalities, against the [[Boy Scouts of America]] in 1997 after he and his son were denied membership because they refused to recognize a "duty to God", and against [[Township High School District 214]] in 2007 over the state's new law mandating a moment of "silent prayer or silent reflection" in classes.<ref name="Tribune"/><ref name="Sun-Times"/> He was involved in numerous other lawsuits, of which at least one other went to the Supreme Court in the late 2000s.<ref name="HeraldReview"/>


Liberal ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' columnist [[Eric Zorn]] spoke positively of Sherman and his activism, arguing his positions were consistent and adhered to the U.S. Constitution.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Zorn | first1=Eric | title=Column: A few last words about the remarkable Rob Sherman | url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/zorn/ct-rob-sherman-atheist-appreciation-constitution-zorn-perspec-1214-md-20161213-column.html | date=December 13, 2016 | publisher=''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' | accessdate=March 2, 2018}}</ref>
According to columnist Eric Zorn with the Chicago Tribune, Sherman was consistent in his constitutional church-state activism. He didn't debate God; instead, his challenges were based on the Constitution, which he felt supported the right of nonbelievers not to sponsor religion. In 1989, when a threat of a legal challenge resulted in the removal of lighted Christian crosses from government property, hundreds of home and business owners responded by erecting lighted crosses on their private property. Sherman called the resulting display "a festival of religious liberty. It proves that people don't need the government to do religion for them."<ref name=chicagotrib>[http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/zorn/ct-rob-sherman-atheist-appreciation-constitution-zorn-perspec-1214-md-20161213-column.html A few last words about the remarkable Rob Sherman]</ref><ref>Chicago Tribune, Rick Pearson. December 10, 1992. Page 74</ref>

After 10 years of membership in American Atheists, he formed his own organization, Rob Sherman Advocacy.<ref name="Traveling"/>


===Political involvement===
===Political involvement===
In his later years, Sherman was active in politics as a [[perennial candidate]]. In 2006, he unsuccessfully ran for the 53rd district in the [[Illinois House of Representatives]] as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]].<ref name="Traveling"/> In 2008, after meeting [[Green Party of the United States|Green Party]] gubernatorial candidate [[Rich Whitney]], Sherman joined the party.<ref name="Traveling"/> That same year, he ran as a Green for the same seat.<ref name="Traveling"/><ref name="Sun-Times"/> He ran unsuccessfully for [[Buffalo Grove, Illinois|Buffalo Grove]] Village Clerk in 2011,<ref name="DailyHerald"/><ref name="HeraldReview">{{cite web | title=Atheist Who Fought Illinois Laws Dies in Small Plane Crash | url=http://herald-review.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/atheist-who-fought-illinois-laws-dies-in-small-plane-crash/article_187e8194-2737-53ac-81b7-91468c883db9.html | date=December 13, 2016 | publisher=''[[Herald & Review]]'' (from the [[Associated Press]]) | accessdate=December 14, 2016}}</ref> for [[Illinois's 5th congressional district]] in [[United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2016#District 5|2016]] as a Green – receiving 4.7% of the vote – and he had announced that he would run for [[Illinois's 12th congressional district]] in 2018.<ref name="DailyHerald"/> He served as the [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook County]] Green Party chairman in 2012.<ref name="Sun-Times"/><ref name="HeraldReview"/>
In his later years, Sherman was active in politics as a [[perennial candidate]]. In 2006, he unsuccessfully ran for the 53rd district in the [[Illinois House of Representatives]] as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]].<ref name="Traveling"/> In 2008, after meeting [[Green Party of the United States|Green Party]] gubernatorial candidate [[Rich Whitney]], Sherman joined the party.<ref name="Traveling"/> That same year, he ran as a Green for the same seat.<ref name="Traveling"/><ref name="Sun-Times"/> He ran unsuccessfully for [[Buffalo Grove, Illinois|Buffalo Grove]] Village Clerk in 2011,<ref name="DailyHerald"/><ref name="HeraldReview">{{cite web | title=Atheist Who Fought Illinois Laws Dies in Small Plane Crash | url=http://herald-review.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/atheist-who-fought-illinois-laws-dies-in-small-plane-crash/article_187e8194-2737-53ac-81b7-91468c883db9.html | date=December 13, 2016 | publisher=''[[Herald & Review]]'' (from the [[Associated Press]]) | accessdate=December 14, 2016}}</ref> for [[Illinois's 5th congressional district]] in [[United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2016#District 5|2016]] as a Green – receiving 4.7% of the vote – and he had announced that he would run for [[Illinois's 12th congressional district]] in 2018.<ref name="DailyHerald"/> He served as the [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook County]] Green Party chairman in 2012.<ref name="Sun-Times"/><ref name="HeraldReview"/>


Sherman's political positions included support for [[capitalism]], [[Feminism in the United States|feminism]], [[LGBT rights in the United States|LGBT rights]], and [[climate change]] advocacy, and he opposed [[red light camera]]s.<ref name="Sun-Times"/> He also supported secularist views, such as removing mentions of "God" from [[United States dollar]] and the [[Pledge of Allegiance]] and removing [[Christmas]] as a [[Federal holidays in the United States|federal holiday]].<ref name="Sun-Times"/>
Sherman's political positions included support for [[capitalism]], [[anti-abortion]], and fighting [[climate change]], opposition to gender and LGBT discrimination, and opposition to [[red light camera]]s, which he referred to as a "revenue scam".<ref name="Sun-Times"/> He also supported secularist legislation, such as removing "In God We Trust" from [[United States currency]], "One nation under God" from the [[Pledge of Allegiance]] and removing [[Christmas]] as a [[Federal holidays in the United States|federal holiday]].<ref name="Sun-Times"/>


===Radio and later career===
===Radio, and later career===
Sherman hosted radio shows on [[WCKG|AM 1530 WJJG]] and [[WKTA|WSSY-AM (1330)]].<ref name="Sun-Times"/>
Sherman hosted radio shows on [[WCKG|AM 1530 WJJG]] and [[WKTA|WSSY-AM (1330)]].<ref name="Sun-Times"/>


In the summer of 2016, Sherman moved from Buffalo Grove to [[Poplar Grove, Illinois]], where he started a company that built kit aircraft.<ref name="Sun-Times"/><ref name="DailyHerald"/>
In the summer of 2016, Sherman moved from Buffalo Grove to [[Poplar Grove, Illinois]], where he started a company that built kit aircraft.<ref name="Sun-Times"/><ref name="DailyHerald"/>

⚫
==Death==
⚫
On the night of December 9, 2016, Sherman died when his [[Zenair CH 601 Zodiac]] crashed outside of [[Marengo, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Pilot Killed in Marengo Plane Crash Identified as Atheist Activist Rob Sherman | url=http://wgntv.com/2016/12/12/pilot-killed-in-marengo-plane-crash-identified-as-atheist-activist-rob-sherman/ | date=December 12, 2016 | publisher=[[WGN-TV]] | accessdate=December 14, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Pilot Dead After Small Plane, Owned By Rob Sherman, Crashes In Marengo | url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/12/10/pilot-dead-after-small-plane-crashes-in-marengo/ | date=December 10, 2016 | publisher=[[CBS Chicago]] | accessdate=December 14, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Crain's"/> He was 63.<ref name="DailyHerald"/> He was flying from his home in Poplar Grove to [[Schaumburg Regional Airport]] to attend a holiday party.<ref name="Wasn'tSupposed">{{cite web | last1=McCoppin | first1=Robert | title=Atheist Activist Who Died in Plane Crash Wasn't Supposed to Be Flying at Night | url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-rob-sherman-crash-report-met-20161215-story.html | date=December 16, 2016 | publisher=''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' | accessdate=December 17, 2016}}</ref> The [[National Transportation Safety Board]] determined that Sherman's plane lost control soon after taking off, and that it crashed around 6:19 p.m. on December 9.<ref name="LostControl">{{cite web | last1=Reiland | first1=Jordyn | title=Robert Sherman's Plane Lost Control Minutes After Takeoff, NTSB Says | url=http://www.nwherald.com/2016/12/15/robert-shermans-plane-lost-control-minutes-after-takeoff-ntsb-says/aqq5yyt/ | date=December 15, 2016 | publisher=''[[Northwest Herald]]'' | accessdate=December 16, 2016}}</ref> [[Federal Aviation Administration]] records also showed that Sherman had a [[sport pilot certificate]], meaning that by flying at night, he was violating the restrictions on his license.<ref name="Wasn'tSupposed"/>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
⚫
Sherman was born to a [[Jewish]] family.<ref name="Tribune">{{cite web | last1=Briscoe | first1=Tony | last2=Sobol | first2=Rosemary Regina | last3=McCoppin | first3=Robert | title=Noted Atheist Rob Sherman Dies in Plane Crash: 'He Was Dedicated to His Causes' | url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-rob-sherman-plane-crash-met-20161212-story.html | date=December 13, 2016 | publisher=''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' | accessdate=December 13, 2016}}</ref> He realized he was an atheist by the age of 9, but that fact was never "a big deal" until age 13 when he told his parents he didn't want to go to Hebrew School anymore. When his parents asked why, he said, "Because I’m an atheist. I don’t believe in make-believe, so I don’t believe in God."<ref name="Sun-Times">{{cite web | last1=O'Donnell | first1=Maureen | last2=Owen | first2=Jordan | title=Atheist Activist, Green Candidate Rob Sherman Dies in Plane Crash | url=http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/marengo-plane-crash-victim-identified-as-robert-sherman/ | date=December 12, 2016 | publisher=''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' | accessdate=December 13, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Traveling"/>
Sherman married his wife, Celeste, in 1978, and together they had a son and a daughter.<ref name="Sun-Times"/> He lived in [[Buffalo Grove, Illinois]] for 32 years before moving to [[Poplar Grove, Illinois]] in the summer of 2016.<ref name="DailyHerald"/> He was a volunteer with the [[American Red Cross]].<ref name="DailyHerald"/>


In 1998, Sherman was convicted of domestic battery for striking his 16-year-old son.<ref name="Sun-Times"/> The next year, he spent 120 days in prison for failing to follow orders to complete domestic violence counseling.<ref name="DailyHerald">{{cite web | last1=Constable | first1=Burt | last2=Sotonoff | first2=Jamie | title=Atheist, Activist and Aviator: Remembering Rob Sherman | url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20161212/news/161219711/ | date=December 13, 2016 | publisher=''[[Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)|Daily Herald]]'' | accessdate=December 13, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Crain's">{{cite web | title=Rob Sherman, Atheist Who Fought Illinois Laws, Dies in Small Plane Crash | url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20161212/NEWS02/161219985/rob-sherman-atheist-who-fought-illinois-laws-dies-in-small-plane | date=December 12, 2016 | publisher=''[[Crain's Chicago Business]]'' (from the [[Associated Press]]) | accessdate=December 14, 2016}}</ref>
He married his wife, Celeste, in 1978, and together they had a son and a daughter.<ref name="Sun-Times"/> He lived in [[Buffalo Grove, Illinois]] for 32 years before moving to [[Poplar Grove, Illinois]] in the summer of 2016.<ref name="DailyHerald"/> He was a volunteer with the [[American Red Cross]].<ref name="DailyHerald"/>
In 1998, Sherman was convicted of misdemeanor battery for slapping his 16-year-old son.<ref name="Sun-Times"/> He was sentenced to 120 days in jail for failing to follow orders to complete counseling.<ref name="DailyHerald">{{cite web | last1=Constable | first1=Burt | last2=Sotonoff | first2=Jamie | title=Atheist, Activist and Aviator: Remembering Rob Sherman | url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20161212/news/161219711/ | date=December 13, 2016 | publisher=''[[Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)|Daily Herald]]'' | accessdate=December 13, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Crain's">{{cite web | title=Rob Sherman, Atheist Who Fought Illinois Laws, Dies in Small Plane Crash | url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20161212/NEWS02/161219985/rob-sherman-atheist-who-fought-illinois-laws-dies-in-small-plane | date=December 12, 2016 | publisher=''[[Crain's Chicago Business]]'' (from the [[Associated Press]]) | accessdate=December 14, 2016}}</ref>

⚫
===Death===
⚫
On the night of December 9, 2016, Sherman died when his [[Zenair CH 601 Zodiac]] crashed outside of [[Marengo, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Pilot Killed in Marengo Plane Crash Identified as Atheist Activist Rob Sherman | url=http://wgntv.com/2016/12/12/pilot-killed-in-marengo-plane-crash-identified-as-atheist-activist-rob-sherman/ | date=December 12, 2016 | publisher=[[WGN-TV]] | accessdate=December 14, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Pilot Dead After Small Plane, Owned By Rob Sherman, Crashes In Marengo | url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/12/10/pilot-dead-after-small-plane-crashes-in-marengo/ | date=December 10, 2016 | publisher=[[CBS Chicago]] | accessdate=December 14, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Crain's"/> He was 63.<ref name="DailyHerald"/> He was flying from his home in Poplar Grove to [[Schaumburg Regional Airport]] to attend a holiday party.<ref name="Wasn'tSupposed">{{cite web | last1=McCoppin | first1=Robert | title=Atheist Activist Who Died in Plane Crash Wasn't Supposed to Be Flying at Night | url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-rob-sherman-crash-report-met-20161215-story.html | date=December 16, 2016 | publisher=''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' | accessdate=December 17, 2016}}</ref> The [[National Transportation Safety Board]] determined that Sherman's plane lost control soon after taking off, and that it crashed around 6:19 p.m. on December 9.<ref name="LostControl">{{cite web | last1=Reiland | first1=Jordyn | title=Robert Sherman's Plane Lost Control Minutes After Takeoff, NTSB Says | url=http://www.nwherald.com/2016/12/15/robert-shermans-plane-lost-control-minutes-after-takeoff-ntsb-says/aqq5yyt/ | date=December 15, 2016 | publisher=''[[Northwest Herald]]'' | accessdate=December 16, 2016}}</ref> [[Federal Aviation Administration]] records also showed that Sherman had a [[sport pilot certificate]], meaning that by flying at night, he was violating the restrictions on his license.<ref name="Wasn'tSupposed"/>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 04:42, 8 March 2018

Rob Sherman
Personal details
Born(1953-04-02)April 2, 1953
DiedDecember 9, 2016(2016-12-09) (aged 63)
Marengo, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (before 2008)
Green (2008–2016)
SpouseCeleste (m. 1978–2016)
Children2
Alma materNational Louis University
Northwestern University
Harper College
OccupationBusinessman

Robert I. "Rob" Sherman (April 2, 1953[1] – December 9, 2016) was an American political activist, perennial candidate, and businessman. He was known for his role as an Illinois Green Party candidate, as an atheist and civil rights activist, and for his advocacy of separation of church and state. He died in a plane crash outside Marengo, Illinois on December 9, 2016 at the age of 63.[2][3]

Early life and education

Sherman spent his adolescence in Highland Park,[3] and according to a candidate questionnaire, he attended National Louis University, Northwestern University, and Harper College.[4]

Career

Prior to his political and civil liberties activism, Sherman worked as an office supply dealer, a teacher, at a bank, on a Good Humor truck, and as an office manager for the French consulate. He was also a longtime volunteer for the American Red Cross.[3][5]

Civil rights advocacy

In 1981, Sherman listened to a radio speech by Madalyn Murray O'Hair, who successfully won a U.S. Supreme Court in battle in 1959 against mandatory school prayer and Bible readings. Sherman was motivated to join the American Atheists organization and eventually became its Illinois director and national spokesman.[6] In 1986, he sued the village of Zion, Illinois for the mixing of government and religion, for its inclusion of religious symbols on municipal logos, material and property. The case went to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1992, which ruled in Sherman's favor and ordered municipalities to drop the use of religious symbols.[3] His success earned him front-page news coverage and invitations to appear on national TV shows, including those of Oprah Winfrey, Phil Donahue and Larry King.[6][5]

Sherman frequently received attention in the 1980s and 1990s due to similar civil rights battles, centered around the separation of church and state. Reporter Richard Roeper said in 1998, “He has battled towns from South Holland to Deerfield to Zion to Palatine to Highland, Ind., and Wauwatosa, Wis., over public displays of religious symbols on water towers, on government property and on official village seals."[4] He filed lawsuits against numerous American municipalities, against the Boy Scouts of America in 1997 after he and his son were denied membership because they refused to recognize a "duty to God", and against Township High School District 214 in 2007 over the state's new law mandating a moment of "silent prayer or silent reflection" in classes.[3][4] He was involved in numerous other lawsuits, of which at least one other went to the Supreme Court in the late 2000s.[7]

According to columnist Eric Zorn with the Chicago Tribune, Sherman was consistent in his constitutional church-state activism. He didn't debate God; instead, his challenges were based on the Constitution, which he felt supported the right of nonbelievers not to sponsor religion. In 1989, when a threat of a legal challenge resulted in the removal of lighted Christian crosses from government property, hundreds of home and business owners responded by erecting lighted crosses on their private property. Sherman called the resulting display "a festival of religious liberty. It proves that people don't need the government to do religion for them."[8][9]

After 10 years of membership in American Atheists, he formed his own organization, Rob Sherman Advocacy.[6]

Political involvement

In his later years, Sherman was active in politics as a perennial candidate. In 2006, he unsuccessfully ran for the 53rd district in the Illinois House of Representatives as a Democrat.[6] In 2008, after meeting Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney, Sherman joined the party.[6] That same year, he ran as a Green for the same seat.[6][4] He ran unsuccessfully for Buffalo Grove Village Clerk in 2011,[5][7] for Illinois's 5th congressional district in 2016 as a Green – receiving 4.7% of the vote – and he had announced that he would run for Illinois's 12th congressional district in 2018.[5] He served as the Cook County Green Party chairman in 2012.[4][7]

Sherman's political positions included support for capitalism, anti-abortion, and fighting climate change, opposition to gender and LGBT discrimination, and opposition to red light cameras, which he referred to as a "revenue scam".[4] He also supported secularist legislation, such as removing "In God We Trust" from United States currency, "One nation under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance and removing Christmas as a federal holiday.[4]

Radio, and later career

Sherman hosted radio shows on AM 1530 WJJG and WSSY-AM (1330).[4]

In the summer of 2016, Sherman moved from Buffalo Grove to Poplar Grove, Illinois, where he started a company that built kit aircraft.[4][5]

Personal life

Sherman was born to a Jewish family.[3] He realized he was an atheist by the age of 9, but that fact was never "a big deal" until age 13 when he told his parents he didn't want to go to Hebrew School anymore. When his parents asked why, he said, "Because I’m an atheist. I don’t believe in make-believe, so I don’t believe in God."[4][6]

He married his wife, Celeste, in 1978, and together they had a son and a daughter.[4] He lived in Buffalo Grove, Illinois for 32 years before moving to Poplar Grove, Illinois in the summer of 2016.[5] He was a volunteer with the American Red Cross.[5]

In 1998, Sherman was convicted of misdemeanor battery for slapping his 16-year-old son.[4] He was sentenced to 120 days in jail for failing to follow orders to complete counseling.[5][10]

Death

On the night of December 9, 2016, Sherman died when his Zenair CH 601 Zodiac crashed outside of Marengo, Illinois.[11][12][10] He was 63.[5] He was flying from his home in Poplar Grove to Schaumburg Regional Airport to attend a holiday party.[13] The National Transportation Safety Board determined that Sherman's plane lost control soon after taking off, and that it crashed around 6:19 p.m. on December 9.[14] Federal Aviation Administration records also showed that Sherman had a sport pilot certificate, meaning that by flying at night, he was violating the restrictions on his license.[13]

References

  1. ^ Blumberg, Nick (October 7, 2016). "Rob Sherman: Candidate for Congress, 5th District". Chicago Tonight. Retrieved December 25, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ Abortion protesters demonstrate in suburbs
  3. ^ a b c d e f Briscoe, Tony; Sobol, Rosemary Regina; McCoppin, Robert (December 13, 2016). "Noted Atheist Rob Sherman Dies in Plane Crash: 'He Was Dedicated to His Causes'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 13, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l O'Donnell, Maureen; Owen, Jordan (December 12, 2016). "Atheist Activist, Green Candidate Rob Sherman Dies in Plane Crash". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved December 13, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Constable, Burt; Sotonoff, Jamie (December 13, 2016). "Atheist, Activist and Aviator: Remembering Rob Sherman". Daily Herald. Retrieved December 13, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Testa, Adam (August 22, 2010). "Who is Rob Sherman, Traveling Atheist?". The Southern Illinoisan. Retrieved December 13, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ a b c "Atheist Who Fought Illinois Laws Dies in Small Plane Crash". Herald & Review (from the Associated Press). December 13, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ A few last words about the remarkable Rob Sherman
  9. ^ Chicago Tribune, Rick Pearson. December 10, 1992. Page 74
  10. ^ a b "Rob Sherman, Atheist Who Fought Illinois Laws, Dies in Small Plane Crash". Crain's Chicago Business (from the Associated Press). December 12, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ "Pilot Killed in Marengo Plane Crash Identified as Atheist Activist Rob Sherman". WGN-TV. December 12, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  12. ^ "Pilot Dead After Small Plane, Owned By Rob Sherman, Crashes In Marengo". CBS Chicago. December 10, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  13. ^ a b McCoppin, Robert (December 16, 2016). "Atheist Activist Who Died in Plane Crash Wasn't Supposed to Be Flying at Night". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 17, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ Reiland, Jordyn (December 15, 2016). "Robert Sherman's Plane Lost Control Minutes After Takeoff, NTSB Says". Northwest Herald. Retrieved December 16, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
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