Kathleen Sherger

Kathleen D. Sherger (nee Reed), age 71 of Riverdale and formerly of Lincoln Park, died peacefully at home surrounded by family on the morning of Thursday, June 3, 2021, after a brave and graceful battle with ALS.

Kathleen was a dedicated teacher at Butler High School for twenty-seven years, retiring in 2012. Prior to teaching, she was a programmer for Texas Instruments and then went back to school to get her teaching certification. While at Butler, she taught mathematics and computer science and her summer breaks were often spent reading about and learning subject matter in preparation to teach new courses she designed for her students. She was very bright and a quick study, teaching herself coding languages such as Java and  C++, as well as networking and video game design. She loved learning as much as she loved teaching.

Kathleen met her husband Bob when they were both in the eighth grade at Schuyler Colfax Middle School in Wayne. They often sat next to each other on the school bus and began ‘dating’ around sophomore year in high school. The childhood sweethearts tied the knot on December 26, 1971 at Our Lady of Consolation RC Church in Wayne. Bob was still in the U.S. Army, so their honeymoon was a romantic road trip down south to his base in San Antonio, Texas. They lived there briefly and then in Phoenixville, PA before Bob was discharged. In 1973, they settled in Lincoln Park, NJ where they lived for forty-six years, raising their family of three children.

They were fortunate to have traveled regularly after Kathleen’s retirement. They returned again and again to Key West and Cape May, and visited resorts across the Caribbean. Kathleen also enjoyed annual family vacations to Maine, the Catskills and Adirondacks, the Jersey shore, and beyond. An avid reader, Kathleen was happiest at the beach or pool relaxing with a novel and capping the day off with dinner and drinks.

Kathleen was a beloved full-time teacher, a loving mother and wife, and a devoted caregiver for 38 years to her son Reed, who was born with a developmental disability. Her strength and devotion were an inspiration to colleagues, students, and friends alike. She took pride in her home and gardens, enjoyed cooking with her family, and always welcomed a visitor. Kathleen cherished family traditions and especially loved the holidays and listening to Christmas music while decorating their house to the nines! She enjoyed more than 50 years of the annual Sherger family wreath-making gathering, carrying on a joyful family tradition started by her mother-in-law, Willie. Her adoring daughters will be sure to keep this tradition alive with friends and family for years to come.

Kathleen is survived by her husband Robert of Riverdale, her son Reed of Parsippany, and two daughters; Erika Sherger of Boonton Township and Sara Varney and her husband Jason of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania; two grandchildren; Wynn and River Varney, two brothers; Robb Reed and his wife Kjersti of Port Angeles, Washington, and Anthony Reed of Wantage, New Jersey, a sister; Diane Reed-Chong and her husband Glenn of San Diego, CA, and several nieces and nephews.

Those wishing to make a donation in Kathleen’s memory are asked to consider the ALS Association Greater New York Chapter, 42 Broadway, Suite 1724, New York, NY 10004, als-ny.org; or the ARC of Morris County, P.O.Box 123, Morris Plains, NJ 07950, arcmorris.org