Obituary of Thomas M. Sherbert

Thomas M. Sherbert of Wilmington, Delaware, passed away peacefully in his home on August 19, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. He was 70 years old.

Born in Rome, New York, on May 22, 1956, Tom’s earliest years were spent in Calvert County, Maryland. He grew up in the Media, Pennsylvania, area, graduating from Penncrest High School in 1974.

After initially owning his own general contracting business, Tom returned to sales, working for C.H. Marshall, Inc., in Media; J&L Building Materials, in Frazer; and Tague Lumber, in Media. He retired in 2021.

He was a man of many talents, particularly in carpentry and woodworking. He often used his talent to make beautiful gifts for those he loved. Tom frequently used his skills and time to help others with their construction and house remodeling projects. Whether it was remodeling a kitchen or basement, rebuilding a deck or porch, or constructing a shed or garage, Tom had wonderful design skills and building ideas and could bring them all to life.

In his younger days, Tom had a passion for fast cars, which included racing his GTO’s. He also loved boating, owning several boats throughout his life, both with close friends and on his own. Tom’s interests also included music. He was a collector and lover of many diverse kinds and styles. An avid bassist, he played with several local bands. He took pleasure in meeting diverse groups of people and making others happy through the shared language of music.

One of Tom’s greatest passions was growing and propagating plants and flowers. He collected many different kinds and species of each. Tom was most proud and took the most pleasure in his beautiful backyard water garden and koi pond, which he built and remodeled continuously over the past twenty-five years. His fish were lovely, and his pond was featured on the Delaware Pond Tour.

Tom fought a brave and courageous fight against pancreatic cancer for almost two years. Never once during that time did his friendliness and love for others diminish. He was preceded in death by his father, Archie Sherbert, Jr., and his stepmother, Eloise Sherbert.

He is survived by his mother, Arlene Duff; two sisters, Teresa Thurman and Anne Frantum; niece Mailley Cross; and nephew, Matthew Thurman; in addition to a multitude of friends, all of whom loved him dearly and whom he considered more like family than friends. His relationship with his chosen family is a testament not only to this wonderful man and the blessing of long- term friendships, but the truly beautiful people who for years considered Tom to be part of their families, proving that family is not determined by blood, but by the love and purity of hearts and souls matched not by biology, but by love.

A small Celebration of Life will be held later. In lieu of flowers, Tom requested that donations in his name and memory be given to Smile Train, an international charity that provides surgery for children with cleft lip or palate conditions. (www Smiletrain.org) It was a cause to which Tom
was greatly devoted.