Sheri D. DeRosa

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution announces with great sorrow the death of Sheri D. DeRosa, program administrator for Woods Hole Sea Grant on January 27. She was 41.

Sheri, a resident of Centerville, began working at WHOI in 1992 following three years as a legal assistant for a Hyannis law firm.

She was a graduate of the Burdett School in Boston and Barnstable High School.

Sheri was a member of the WHOI Staff Committee and co-creator and editor of several Sea Grant Web sites, directories and technical reports.  Her colleagues and friends say Sheri was the glue holding the Sea Grant program together and her absence leaves an immense void in their personal and professional lives.

Sheri was the daughter of the late William M. Matsis and daughter of Dorothy A. Matsis of West Yarmouth; wife of Kevin P. DeRosa; sister of David W. of West Yarmouth, Lyn of Sandwich, Jeff of South Yarmouth, Jill of Hyannis; aunt to Robert, Megan and J.V. Rudowski of Sandwich, Nicole LaRiviere of Hyannis, and Michael Matsis of South Yarmouth

Sheri was especially fond of animals.  She enjoyed volunteering for North East All Retriever Rescue and walking her dog, Higgins, and was devoted to the ospreys that make their home on the Quissett Campus.  She looked forward to their return to the nest each spring, so a celebration of her life is planned at WHOI for that time.

The family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the MSPCA, 1577 Falmouth Road, Centerville, MA 02632.