"We were the grateful family that received her beloved Poodle Poppy after Sherry's death. Although we knew her original owner's name, we never tried to look her up. For those that knew Poppy, she lived a very happy life with us until her death yesterday. She was in great health up until last Sunday. It is a great loss to us. Perhaps Poppy and Sherry are together again."
In loving memory of
Sherwood Jeanne (Sherry) Bicknell Miles
October 9, 1944 - March 5, 2010
Sherry Bicknell Miles of Madison died at home on March 5, 2010. She was 65. Sherry was born on October 9, 1944 at Chelsea Naval Hospital near Boston, Massachusetts to William and Frances (Burgoon) Bicknell. She graduated from Madison West High School in 1961 as a Merit Scholar finalist. She was a 1965 honors graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in History and Italian with an emphasis in Art History. After her 1964 marriage to James B. Schwalbach, she assisted him with his duties as District Attorney in Iowa County. Their son David was born in 1968. They subsequently moved to Milwaukee, where Jim was an assistant D.A. They later divorced and she remarried. She and her now former husband, Harry M. Miles, founded and operated a successful software company in Milwaukee. In 1988 they moved to Washington D. C. They then lived and worked in Cambridge, England for several years before returning to their Capitol Hill home. While in England, Sherry worked in fiscal management for an international environmental organization. During this period, she travelled in Europe, Africa and Asia. Sherry especially loved Italy. From 1995 until 2004 Sherry worked for National Public Radio in News Administration. She cherished the friends she made at NPR and was grateful for the sick leave days that they donated to her when she suffered a brain aneurism in 2004, as well as for their many other acts of kindness. During and after her lengthy hospitalization, her son David lovingly shouldered the many responsibilities for her care. Family and friends traveled to Washington to help in this difficult time. Sherry returned to Madison in 2005. While living in Madison, she appreciated the loving support of her mother, Frances B. Bicknell, her nephew Paul Merriam, good friends David and Norma Merriam and, from a distance in Atlanta, her son, David and his wife Betsy, and other family and friends. She is survived by her son, David C. (Betsy) Schwalbach, and grandson, Max Schwalbach, all of Atlanta, Georgia. She also is survived by her mother, Frances B. Bicknell, brother, Brad Bicknell of Madison, sisters Elizabeth B. Richmond of Eau Claire, Tani (Ted) Phillips of Toledo, Ohio; niece Blythe Phillips (Laura Shepherd) of Renton, Washington; nephews Paul Merriam, Elliott (Fabiola) Merriam of Madison; Brandon Phillips of Tucson, Arizona; grand-niece Isabella Merriam of Madison; and her adored poodles Poppy and Chloe. She was preceded in death by her father, William S. Bicknell and her first husband, James B. Schwalbach. Sherry was a voracious reader, and loved theater, opera, the symphony, and all visual arts. She kept a beautiful garden, was a wonderful cook, and made carefully tailored gifts for lucky family and friends. She had many friends and faithfully nurtured these friendships. Sherry had a brilliant mind, a precise vocabulary, a quick wit, and a kind heart. We will miss her. A memorial service to celebrate Sherry's life will be held Friday, April 9, 2010 at 4:30 PM at FIRST UNITARIAN SOCIETY LANDMARK MEETING HOUSE, 900 University Bay Drive, Madison, WI 53705. In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory may be sent to: MARC, Inc., 901 Post Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53713; The Paideia School, 1509 Ponce de Leon Avenue, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30307; or the University of Wisconsin Foundation, directed to the William S. Bicknell Actuarial Scholarship Fund.
Tributes
"I am devastated by this news. Sherry was such an important part of my childhood and teen years. It was Sherry who made my transition from a puppy-mill grade school to a school for gifted kids happen. I will be forever grateful for that "interference;" she truly changed my life.
Her sharp intelligence, forthright wit, and honest commentary served as a model for me; a model that has served me well in life. We renewed our acquaintance when I graduated from college, and aside from the everyday thoughts of her I have as I listen to NPR, we toast her every holiday as we use the special dish set she set aside just for me.
She was truly a special and dynamic woman, and we are all the richer for having her in our lives. Godspeed, Sherry."
"Dear Sherry's family and friends: I am a friend and former UW-Eau Claire McIntyre Library coworker with Betsy who heard so much about Sherry's life particularly during the last decade. I offer my deepest sympathies at your loss which must be a heavy burden for you all. Through Betsy, I felt I knew Sherry and so admired her work, her courage, her passions, her sense of humor through the last few years. I send my condolences to all of you. You will be in my heart and thoughts throughout the coming months."
"I chiefly know Sherry through the warm, always amusing stories told about her by her sister Betsy, who is a treasured friend. When I did finally meet Sherry in person a few years ago, she lived up to all of the stories, keeping us laughing all evening with her quick wit and laughing eyes. I am so sorry for your loss and keep you all in my thoughts."
"Many people have come and gone in the 25 years I've worked at NPR. I don't remember them all but I surely remember Sherry! She had a good spirit and we had some nice conversations about gardening."
"I will miss our long conversations. Glad we spoke briefly the other day. Thank you for you!"
"I'm so sorry to you, her family. She was a delightful colleague at NPR, and had a real twinkle and intelligence you couldn't hide from. I ran into her at the Kennedy Center a few times and she was equally in her element. It was a loss when she left NPR and I'm sorry for the much bigger loss it must be to all of you. I visited her after her stroke and she still had a twinkle. So I hope this provides some comfort to you in your sadness - I will remember her fondly for her sense of humor and smile. With regret, Kitty Eisele NPR News "
"Sherry just crossed my mind two days ago. When I worked at NPR and went out on travel, Sherry used to keep my cat and she would hiss at Poppy. I will always remember the wonderful times we had together as co-workers and friends. You and your family are in my prayers. "
"To the family and friends of Sherry Miles, I worked with Sherry during her time at NPR, and have missed her presence since she fell ill in 2004. This is a busy place, with deadlines pressing all the time. Sometimes it is difficult to look up from the computer screen. But Sherry always made me pause, and smile. She was a breath of fresh air. Best, Sarah Beyer Kelly"