Joseph Lloyd Sherk, 75, of Bremerton, died June 23 from complications of Alzheimer’s.
Joe was born to Lloyd and Evelyn Sherk on June 6, 1943 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. When a childhood bout of rheumatic fever derailed his early athletic aspirations, he decided if he couldn’t play sports, he’d write about them. After graduating from South Kitsap High School in 1961, he began working as a sports writer for the Bremerton Sun and was named sports editor by age 21.
His passion for sports writing led him on an incredible career journey. He wrote for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and the Tacoma News Tribune, covering a range of sports – everything from high school football to drag races to the first few seasons of the Seattle Mariners.
In 1981, he got an offer he couldn’t refuse and moved into motorsports public relations. Over the next 32 years, he handled media and public relations for many of the top names in NHRA drag racing. He traveled with his “road family” of fellow PR managers and photographers to 20+ races around the country each year, amassing more than 3 million frequent-flier miles and making lifelong friends in each city.
He later returned to his roots, working as a freelance sports writer for the Kitsap Sun before Alzheimer’s “stole his words” and forced him to retire. In 2015, he was inducted into the Kitsap Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2016, the pressroom at Pacific Raceways in Kent was christened the Joe Sherk Media Center.
Joe is survived by his sister Sally Henning and her fiancé Dale Osgood of Port Orchard; son Neil Sherk and daughter Lynn Sherk, both of Seattle; and close family friends Kathy Powell, Kerina Powell-Mancuso & Tony Mancuso and daughter Mila of Bremerton. He was preceded in death by his parents, and nephew Scott Henning.
A celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 1 at 1 p.m. at the Clubhouse at McCormick Woods in Port Orchard. Bring your stories and memories – we’ll provide refreshments, a no-host bar and plenty of his favorite dessert: carrot cake. If you’re unable to attend, please feel free to share your memories at www.rill.com.
