Sherwood E. Vandewater

Waltham – Mr. Sherwood E. 'Van' Vandewater, of Waltham, died Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. He was 73.

Van was born in Mineola, Long Island on December 6, 1940, a son of the late Stephen and Evelyn (Van Riper) Vandewater. He lived in Garden City, Long Island, New York for a number of years where he was a captain with the volunteer fire department.

Before moving to Waltham ten years ago he and has family had lived in Brighton for over twenty-five years. Until his retirement he worked as an associate at Costco's in Waltham and before that worked as a carpenter for a number of years.

He was a devout Catholic and a longtime parishioner at Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church. Van was one of the founders, and past Grand Knight, of Our Lady's Knights of Columbus Council No. 14710. He also belonged to the Massachusetts 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, Gov. David I. Walsh Assembly. Van was a former Boy Scout Leader and was active with the Lay Associates at the Stigmatines in Waltham and with Retrouvaille of New England.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-two years, Page M. (Eberle) Vandewater; his children, Gilberto L. Rosado of Orlando, Florida, William D. Vandewater of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Ruth M. George-Vandewater of Waltham; his grandchildren, Brandon Rosado and Joshua Vandewater and also leaves many nieces and nephews.

He was the brother of the late Merrill and Gordon Vandewater, Margaret Bos and Virginia Barde.

Family and friends will honor and remember Van's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday, April 25th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to the Knights of Columbus Council No. 14710, 920-R Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA 02452 or to Hospice of the Good Shepherd, 90 Wells Avenue, Newton, MA 02459.