Sherill LaMar Moses

Sherill LaMar Moses was a devoted father and husband, and a lover of people, learning, philosophy, and poetry. As a Professor of Philosophy and Political Science at Cerritos College for 27 years, he affected countless students by deepening their understanding of philosophy and government, motivating them to be active in civic life, and encouraging them to question their assumptions about the world. Later, as a city leader, he spearheaded efforts to infuse the city with the arts and to expand human service programs. Sherill was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and grew up on a family farm with his parents and six siblings in the midst of the Great Depression. Memories of harvesting sugar beets and swimming in the creek with his identical twin, Darrell Lee, remained strong throughout his life, as did the intense competitive streak nurtured by the rivalry with his twin.

In 1944, Sherill and Darrell served together in World War II as Army surgical technicians in Paris, France. It was a transformative experience for Sherill, exposing him to new ideas and forever changing his worldview. After coming home, he enrolled at the University of Utah where he earned his Bachelors and Masters degrees. As a graduate student, he met a bright, artistic freshman, Catherine Louise Adix, from Cody, Wyoming, and they were married a year later in 1951. In 1955, Sherill and Cathy settled in the soon-to-be incorporated city of La Mirada, California, on which both put their unique stampshe through his growing political interests and she through her artistic talents. From 1961 to 1988 he was a Professor of Philosophy and Political Science at Cerritos College, where he also served as President of the Faculty Senate and, later, as president of the Retired Faculty Association. Passionate about citizen involvement, he became very active politically, tirelessly canvassing local neighborhoods for various Democratic candidatesnever too shy to knock on a strangers door and engage them in conversation, especially enjoying the challenge when they disagreed with him. He ran for local office himself in 1974, winning a seat on the La Mirada City Council.

Generous and open-hearted, he delighted in showing out-of-towners the sites of Southern Californiaparticularly his beloved Laguna Beachand always opened his home to family and friends. Sherill is survived by his wife, Cathy, his three children, Randy, Jeff, and Terri, and his grandchildren, Kaelyn, Liam, and Samantha. He is also survived by his younger brother, DeVon Moses of Bountiful, Utah.