Former U.S. Representative Sherwood Boehlert of New York passed away on Sept. 20 at the age of 84. Among the highlights of his 24-year tenure in Congress was his chairmanship of the House Science Committee for six years.
“We mourn the loss of Sherwood Boehlert, who was a true friend and champion of the scientific community. He leaves behind an enduring legacy, and his willingness to bridge partisan divides to advance policy will be celebrated for years to come. As a well-respected member of Congress, Sherry championed the role science should play in informing policymaking for the betterment of society. For that, we will be eternally grateful.
We were honored to award him the AAAS William D. Carey Lecture in 2007 for his significant contributions to the science and technology enterprise. And as a strong supporter of AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships, Sherry took the time to help scientists understand the complexity of the policymaking process, making us better partners to our policy colleagues. His lessons and words are just as salient now as they were back then.
Our hearts go out to his wife Marianne, his entire family, and his friends.”