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News & Photos
Why We Give: The Sher Family
Four very different daughters. One school.
“When they’re all at the same place, that tells you a lot about the place,” says Ron. He and wife Carol love to talk about daughters Rachel ’01, Ali ’06, Deb ‘6, and Jocie ’06 and how McDonogh suited all four of them.
“Since they graduated, I’ve wanted to do something for McDonogh—for the student body as a whole,” says Ron. He and his family have made a major gift to The McDonogh Forever Campaign, specifically for the St. John Student Center. “My rationale is that the student union will benefit the kids for the next umpteen years,” he adds.
Maybe even their future grandchildren, Carol and Ron like to hope.
Carol recalls the beginning of the Sher family legacy, when triplets Ali ‘06, Deb ‘06, and Jocie ’06 enrolled as middle schoolers: “They were treated as individuals. Teachers understood that they were different kids. It was okay if one excelled at one thing. They weren’t a package.”
McDonogh became the place for oldest daughter Rachel ’01 a year later. She transferred from another school as a junior. “Rachel blossomed immediately,” adds Ron. “She did exceptionally well.”
Jocie had to work the hardest, Ron recounts. “For her to get to Columbia Law is the greatest achievement of all of them. Her stick-to-it-iveness was fostered at McDonogh.”
“We never complained about the tuition. We knew it was worth it,” says Carol. She lists the benefits her girls received: opportunities to excel in their respective areas of interest, to travel internationally, to have manners and values reinforced, to have great teachers as mentors, to experience community life, to learn to write well.
Ron adds to Carol’s list: teachers who remain at McDonogh for generations, the kids you meet. “Look at where these kids go to college. It’s no coincidence.”
“All four of my daughters said their freshman year of college was easier than twelfth grade at McDonogh,” says Ron. “And they identify more with McDonogh than college in most respects.” Rachel graduated from the College of Charleston in 2005; the triplets from Boston University in 2010.
The Shers regard McDonogh with wistful gratitude. Like many alumni parents, they miss spending time on campus. “I was at McDonogh four or five times a day during the years when the girls weren’t driving,” recalls Carol. “It was wonderful.”
In fact, the girls’ school activities led to relationships that the family still maintains. Deb and Ali’s exchange trip to Japan led the family to host a Japanese student the following year. Carol went to the girl’s high school graduation in Tokyo, and they continue to correspond. A similar connection endures among the Shers and McDonogh 26 Elementary School outside New Orleans. Their bond formed after Ali and fellow ’06 Rollins-Luetkemeyer Leaders visited the sister-school six months post-Katrina.
Ron believes that other alumni parents should consider supporting The McDonogh Forever Campaign. “Your kids got so much from McDonogh in terms of skills and experiences. Give to the next generations of students.”
Four very different daughters. One school.
“When they’re all at the same place, that tells you a lot about the place,” says Ron. He and wife Carol love to talk about daughters Rachel ’01, Ali ’06, Deb ‘6, and Jocie ’06 and how McDonogh suited all four of them.
“Since they graduated, I’ve wanted to do something for McDonogh—for the student body as a whole,” says Ron. He and his family have made a major gift to The McDonogh Forever Campaign, specifically for the St. John Student Center. “My rationale is that the student union will benefit the kids for the next umpteen years,” he adds.
Maybe even their future grandchildren, Carol and Ron like to hope. Carol recalls the beginning of the Sher family legacy, when triplets Ali ‘06, Deb ‘06, and Jocie ’06 enrolled as middle schoolers: “They were treated as individuals. Teachers understood that they were different kids. It was okay if one excelled at one thing. They weren’t a package.”
McDonogh became the place for oldest daughter Rachel ’01 a year later. She transferred from another school as a junior. “Rachel blossomed immediately,” adds Ron. “She did exceptionally well.” Jocie had to work the hardest, Ron recounts. “For her to get to Columbia Law is the greatest achievement of all of them. Her stick-to-it-iveness was fostered at McDonogh.”
“We never complained about the tuition. We knew it was worth it,” says Carol. She lists the benefits her girls received: opportunities to excel in their respective areas of interest, to travel internationally, to have manners and values reinforced, to have great teachers as mentors, to experience community life, to learn to write well.
Ron adds to Carol’s list: teachers who remain at McDonogh for generations, the kids you meet. “Look at where these kids go to college. It’s no coincidence.”
“All four of my daughters said their freshman year of college was easier than twelfth grade at McDonogh,” says Ron. “And they identify more with McDonogh than college in most respects.” Rachel graduated from the College of Charleston in 2005; the triplets from Boston University in 2010.
The Shers regard McDonogh with wistful gratitude. Like many alumni parents, they miss spending time on campus. “I was at McDonogh four or five times a day during the years when the girls weren’t driving,” recalls Carol. “It was wonderful.”
In fact, the girls’ school activities led to relationships that the family still maintains. Deb and Ali’s exchange trip to Japan led the family to host a Japanese student the following year. Carol went to the girl’s high school graduation in Tokyo, and they continue to correspond. A similar connection endures among the Shers and McDonogh 26 Elementary School outside New Orleans. Their bond formed after Ali and fellow ’06 Rollins-Luetkemeyer Leaders visited the sister-school six months post-Katrina.
Ron believes that other alumni parents should consider supporting The McDonogh Forever Campaign. “Your kids got so much from McDonogh in terms of skills and experiences. Give to the next generations of students.”