TODAY! 10/29
Memorial tree and bench with plaque. NK Town Beach, 5:00!
This GFM is to raise funds to purchase a memorial bench and plaque for Linda Sherman...
Linda was tragically killed by a motorist while riding her trike on Boston Neck Rd in June of 2024. We have a 'Red Sunset Maple' that has been very generously donated and are working to get it planted (with the bench and plaque) at the North Kingstown Beach this September. Linda lived for the beach and the water, and 'identified as a mermaid'. We felt that having a Linda Sherman Memorial Tree at the town beach would keep her close, and in the hearts of all the community people who knew and loved her.
We are excited to have North Kingstown come together for this memorial, to remember Linda...her life, her family, and the things that she loved.
Please feel free to add a comment about Linda, to the family, a memory, just a kind word.
Thank you so much!
*Edited to add that all overage will be donated to Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. Additionally, there will be a dedication day in September, more info coming.
Thank you!!
*There is also a memorial bench for Linda at her beach in Poplar Point.
June 27, 2024
Linda Zanghetti Sherman of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, died unexpectedly on Thursday, June 20, 2024. Linda was born to Ronald and Kathleen Zanghetti on June 25, 1970, in New London, Connecticut.
Linda grew up on Fishers Island, New York and graduated from Fishers Island School in 1988. She graduated from Simmons College with BS in Health Studies in 1992 and a MS in Physical Therapy in 1994. Linda loved her educational experiences and cherished the lifelong relationships she maintained with the many great teachers and coaches that impacted her life along the way.
Life on The Island consisted of a large, loving Italian family, pickup basketball, the Celtics, the New York Yankees, boating on her father’s beloved “Fast Break”, swimming, lobster dinners, a love for Christmas, and a very close-knit community. Prior to her death Linda celebrated the Celtics championship number 18 with her family.
It should be mentioned that Linda converted to a Boston Red Sox fan after marrying her husband of 27 years, Brian Sherman, who is a die-hard Red Sox fan.
Growing up as a part of The Island community laid the foundation for her continued dedication to serving through her job as a Staff Physical Therapist at Newport Hospital, where she worked for 17 years, and Roberts Health Center where she worked as a per diem Physical Therapist. Beyond helping her patients heal, Linda deeply cared for the person and always took the time to learn more about them. Work nights at the Sherman house consisted of countless stories about her patients and her coworkers at Newport Hospital and Roberts Health Care.
Basketball was a passion of Linda’s that began in her driveway and pickup courts on The Island and continued through Fishers Island school where she played for both the boys and girls high school teams. After graduating she played point guard at Simmons College. Linda met her husband shortly after graduating while playing pickup basketball in Wakefield, Mass.
Linda passed her love of the game to her children Anina and Christopher. She began coaching Anina’s third-grade recreational basketball team with Al Southwick, whom she deeply admired. In addition, Linda was a fixture at her son’s practices and games for his recreational basketball team NK Gold, coached by her husband. She was frequently the scorekeeper during games, a fill-in when extra players were needed in practice, and a voice of reason when things got heated during games. Linda cherished the relationships she made with each player on both teams.
Given that she grew up on an island and lived in the Ocean State it is only fitting that swimming was another love. Linda identified as a mermaid. She lived for swimming at Lone Tree Point and laying in the sun alongside her many friends from the neighborhood. Swims were even better with her beloved dog Noodle matching her stroke for stroke. There is no place on the earth she would have rather been than on the beach on a Saturday afternoon with her husband piloting to the mooring after a productive morning of fishing on the Fast Break, which was passed on from her father to her brother, David Zanghetti, and to her.
Linda’s goal was to swim at least one day of every month of the year, and she did this without a wetsuit. When the water was particularly cold, she took pride in being able to get 30 strokes in before numbness took over her muscles. She swam the Save the Bay swim in 2022.
In addition to being survived by her husband, children, and brother Linda is survived by her friend and sister-in-law, Elaine Munson, nephews Nicholas and Andrew Zanghetti, and Joshua and Kyle Gagnon, many cousins from Texas, South Carolina, and Connecticut as well as close friends from Westmoreland Farm, Simmons College, and Lone Tree Point.
Visiting hours will be held at Fagan-Quinn Funeral Home, 825 Boston Neck Rd., North Kingstown, RI, on Saturday, June 29th, from 2:00-6:00 PM. There will be a small service at 6:00 p.m. After the service there will be a gathering at Lone Tree Point with a shuttle running every 30 minutes. In honor of Linda’s passion for the water, guests are encouraged to bring a swimsuit for a swim and wear something with a nautical theme.
In lieu of flowers please go for a swim, hug a loved one, and make a difference in the life of others- these things, among many others, defined Linda.
Thank you, Lynn Moran, for donating the Linda Sherman Memorial Red Sunset Maple!!
[email redacted]
Thank you.
Organizer
