Joseph Sherman, violinist

Joseph Sherman, 62, a violinist whose very life was music, died of cancer Aug. 1 at his home in Penn Valley.

Mr. Sherman, who also had a video-production business in Center City, for many years played with the Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra, including as first violin.

Juggling his business with his orchestra commitment could often be a challenge, said his wife of 30 years, Alina.

"At Christmastime, we'd be getting a lot of transfers" for the video-production business, she said, "and he would have to play a Nutcracker. I'd say, 'Go ahead. It's your life.' "

Music was indeed Mr. Sherman's life. Born at the close of World War II in the Soviet Union, Mr. Sherman learned to play violin through the Soviet system.

When he met his wife in Rome years later, they learned they had attended the same music school, but not at the same time.

In 1978, Mr. Sherman came to the United States to "get away from discrimination of Jews" in the Soviet Union, his wife said. He began playing for the orchestra, performing in Atlantic City, teaching at Settlement Music School - any venue where he could make money in his profession.

"He was running around day and night," Alina Sherman said. "He played everywhere. He was very busy. He was never at home. He was always working late trying to make a living."

So they decided they needed something to provide a steady income and allow Mr. Sherman to have a family life. They started Video City, which does transfers and commercials. Their son, Jonathan, now operates it.

Mr. Sherman "continued playing after we started the business," his wife said. "He stopped around 2004 because he was not feeling well.

"But music, well, music was his life."

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Sherman is survived by a daughter, Julienna, and a sister, Nina Sitkovetsky. .

Services and burial were private.