Memories
Please send your memories of Joseph Sherman (comments, articles, photographs etc.) to josephshermanlegacy@gmail.com​
Photographs of Joe Sherman © 1968 – 1971 Mike Gendel. All rights reserved.
Keith Klugman (KES matric 1973) writes:
I owe Joe Sherman a lot. In a school obsessed with sport, he was obsessed with academic excellence. When I first joined his class we used to get a grade each quarter in each subject. I wanted to be the best in class and got an upper second for English which I thought was OK - there was an optional comment from teachers usually for those who had failed that term, that you needed to work harder. In all my years at KEPS and KES, I had never received that comment in any subject or any quarter - Joe gave it to me for that upper second - he told me when I was outraged that he expected more from me. When Wits gave me an honorary degree last year I talked to the graduating medical class about mentors who have high expectations for their students and I told them I had high expectations for them - Joe was such a mentor to many of us.
Dr. Klugman is the director of the pneumonia programme at the Seattle-based Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and professor emeritus of global health at Emory University, USA. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Wits University in 2023 and the Sabin Gold Medal, one of the highest recognitions for vaccinologists globally, in 2024.
Ken Huddle (KES Matric 1967) writes:​
I was one of those boys privileged to be taught by Joseph Sherman. Each of his lessons was a unique experience: he had the gift to make literature, poetry and plays come alive, together with the ability to enthuse his pupils as to the beauty and depth of the English language. I don’t remember taking notes in his classes – I just sat enthralled. My love of reading is in no small measure due to his influence.
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Joseph Sherman was a uniquely gifted teacher whose knowledge of the English language was profound. His joy in sharing his love of English with his pupils was evident. The positive impact he had on so many pupils is his enduring legacy.
Professor Huddle is Emeritus Professor of Medicine at Wits. He was head prefect and recipient of the Desmond Davis and War Memorial Scholarship at KES, Chairman of the KES Governing Body, Professor of Medicine and Chief Specialist at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, and recipient of the Wits Gold Medal for his “tireless contribution to medicine, academic citizenry and civil society."
Laurence Esterhuizen (Matric 1969) writes: ​
In retrospect, it was an honour and a privilege to attend his classes at KES in the 60s. We just did not appreciate, at the time, that we were being taught by a great man.
Laurence Esterhuizen (BSc and MBS, Wits) held management and ownership positions in the aerospace industry in North America for over 30 years.