Mary Patricia Doubleday Irons, 83, Vero Beach
Mary Patricia “Pat” Doubleday Irons, 83, of Vero Beach, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Dec. 10, 2017. Pat was born on March 25, 1934, in New York City to George Chester Doubleday and Mary Patricia Kelley of Upper Brookville, Long Island and New York City.
Pat grew up with her two younger sisters, Meg and Dorothy, in Upper Brookville, Long Island. She attended the Greenvale School, Ethel Walker School and Vasser College. During her college years she met Henry Clay Irons, Princeton University, Class of 1951, through their respective parents who were close friends out on Long Island.
Harry and Pat married on July 10, 1954, at St. Dominic’s Church in Oyster Bay, Long Island. After initially living in New York City, Pat and Harry moved to Upper Brookville to make their home and raise their three children.
During these years Pat balanced the commitment of a corporate career with the obligations of raising a family, with all of the required grace and fortitude, while still maintaining an active social life with a long list of family and friends. Pat was the editor of Baby Talk, a magazine for expectant mothers, with offices in New York City.
In the late 1980s, Pat and Harry moved to Vero Beach, where they enjoyed a wonderful chapter in their lives spanning almost three decades with a multitude of friends in this beautiful hamlet on the ocean. During this time Pat focused her unstoppable energy organizing dinner parties at her home, playing tennis and golf, volunteering her time and helping friends and family plan unforgettable vacations. Pat was a past member of The Creek Club, Locust Valley, New York and The Riomar Club, Vero Beach.
Pat is survived by her sisters, Marguerite Doubleday Buck, of Bernardsville, N.J., and Dorothy Doubleday Massey, of Santa Fe, N.M.; her son, Henry Clay Irons, of Newport Beach, Calif.; her son, George Chester (Barbara Ann Kroeger) Irons, of Aspen, Colo.; her daughter, Carol Louise Irons (Christopher Jonathan) Ross, of Auckland, New Zealand; and her grandchildren, Genevieve A. Irons-Mousavi, Suzette McKenzie Irons, Morgan Greer Irons, Grace Mary Patricia Ross and Miles John Mabyn Ross.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to HALO Rescue, 710 Jackson Street, Sebastian, Florida 32958 or The Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County, PO Box 644, Vero Beach, Florida 32961-0644.
A Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 10 a.m.
David Carl Peterson, 85, Vero Beach
David Carl Peterson, 85, of Vero Beach, passed away on Dec. 4, 2017, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Born on Sept. 16, 1932, to David Peterson and Carrie Carlson Peterson, he spent his youth in Deep River, Conn., where he graduated high school in 1950.
He attended Colgate University as a War Memorial Scholar, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1954. After serving in the US Army, Mr. Peterson went to work for The New York Telephone Company. Known as a level-headed businessman, he spent those years working as a Vice President at AT&T.
After AT&T, he assumed the position of Senior Vice President of Business Affairs and Administration of Madison Square Garden Sports Group, where he was responsible for all financial operations for the New York Knicks and New York Rangers.
Mr. Peterson was a sports fanatic, a life-long Mets fan, and proud member of the United States Olympic Committee Board of Directors from 1992 to present. His primary role was that of Vice Chairman of the Finance Committee. He served on numerous boards including the Jessie Owens Foundation, Kids Peace, and Southside Hospital.
He leaves behind his wife of 58 years, Ruth; his children, David and Robyn; and his grandchildren, Stephanie, Cassie, and Carl Brown.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the David C. Peterson Memorial Fund at Colgate University, 13 Oak Drive, Hamilton, NY 13346.
A private burial service will take place in Deep River, Conn. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Vero Beach. Swan Funeral Home Old Saybrook are handling the arrangements for the family.
Philip Scafetta, Sr., 84, Vero Beach
Philip Scafetta, Sr., 84, a U.S. veteran, passed away Nov. 20, 2017, surrounded by his family. He was born in Batavia, N.Y., to Dominic and Sarah Scafetta, and has resided in Vero Beach for 43 years.
He is survived by his wife, Jane; son, Philip Jr. (Janice); daughter, Kathleen (Gordon) McRae; son, Paul; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren, all of Vero Beach. He is also survived by his brother, John (Linda) of Eagle, Idaho; sister, Angeline (Vincent) Misiti, of Batavia, N.Y.; and brother, Richard, of Hamburg, N.Y.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his twin brother, Dominic, and his brother Lewis.
Shirley Brewer Sherman, 92, Vero Beach
Shirley Brewer Sherman, 92, of Vero Beach, passed away Dec. 12, 2017, surrounded by her children. She was the youngest of four children, born in Trewince Villa, Grampound Road, Ladock R.D., in Cornwall, England, and lived in Vero Beach.
During WWII, Shirley served her country by serving as a clerk in the Prince of Wales Hospital, as a secretary at the Imperial Hotel, and in May 1944 joined the Royal Navy with the rank of Wren, serving with HMS Raleigh at Torpoint Navy Base where she was a secretary/typist to provide pay to sailors.
After the war, she was a secretary at Torbay Motors, and J.F. Rockheys Dept. Store and assisted her family to run a family inn “Ashleigh Court,” before emigrating to Canada and the U.S.
Her education began at the County School at St Austell, Cornwall; Headland College, Plymouth; and Warrens Business and Commercial College, Plymouth, Devon, England. In Florida, she attended Charron Williams College in Orlando for Business; Florida Hospital Orlando, LPN program; Orange County Vocational School, Medical Secretary; and Indian River County School District-Certified Nursing Assistant program.
Shirley was married to John S. Sherman in 1955 at Miami, and traveled to Nassau, Bahamas, for her honeymoon.
She was a homemaker for her husband and three children, and in 1966, the family moved from Miami to Vero Beach.
Shirley was a Born Again Christian and a member of Christ Church of Vero Beach, and had previously belonged to First Church of God, and many other churches.
She was involved with the Vero Beach Theatre Guild, Cosmopolitan Club, Episcopal Choir, Elderberry’s, Prayer Group, Walking Group, and Meals Ministry.
Survivors include daughter, Elizabeth Sherman; sons, Andrew Sherman (Carman), and Roger Sherman; granddaughter, Kathryn Sherman; grandson, Christopher Sherman; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews, in England and beyond.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Reginald John Brewer and Elsie Tremayne Brewer (formerly Jewell); sister, Jeanette Gomn; brothers, Victor Brewer and Geoffrey Brewer; and many cousins, aunts, and uncles.
Shirley was completely devoted to her children. She was a consummate cook, thrifty shopper, loved her pets and gardening, supported her friends, community and church.
She traveled to many places and events to include her home country of England, trips with her sister to San Francisco, and a church group tour of the Canadian Rockies, a cruise trip with her cousin to Panama, volunteer outreach with Appalachian Children’s Project in Kentucky, camping trips around the Carolina’s, Florida and the Keys, and a very special retreat to The Billy Graham Center in Asheville, N.C.
A Memorial Service is planned for a date in the future.
