Sanford P. Sher, 84, specialist at Merck

Dr. Sanford "Sandy" P. Sher, of Chestnut Hill, a retired medical-information specialist for Merck & Co. Inc. and a community activist, died of heart failure at Chestnut Hill Hospital, Sunday, Nov. 13, three days after his 84th birthday.

Dr. Sher graduated from Bronx High School of Science in New York. He earned a bachelor's degree and a medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis.

He was on the medical-information staff of Smith Kline & French, now GlaxoSmithKline, in Philadelphia when he met his future wife, Dena Gibbs. They married in 1956.

In 1963, he joined Merck in West Point, Montgomery County. He remained with the pharmaceutical firm for 28 years, retiring in 1991.

As a medical-information specialist in the toxicology department at Merck, he coordinated information on new drugs for approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, his wife said. He was the author of numerous scientific articles.

As a teenager, Dr. Sher took the middle name Paul because of his admiration for Paul Robeson, the African American athlete, actor, and concert singer who was an advocate for social justice.

While living in St. Louis, Dr. Sher was active in the civil rights movement.

He and his wife moved to Whitemarsh Township in 1958. During the Vietnam War, Dr. Sher participated in antiwar demonstrations with his family and provided counseling for young men who did not want to be drafted into the military. He cofounded the Plymouth Meeting Peace Group and campaigned for peace candidates.

In the 1960s, he and his wife were involved in the building of a new library in Whitemarsh. He was also active in the establishment of the Whitemarsh Arts Center, which his wife cofounded.

Dr. Sher and his wife moved to Chestnut Hill in 1980. He served on the board of the Water Tower Recreation Center and raised money for the maintenance of Winston Park in Chestnut Hill. He was a volunteer at the Woodmere Art Museum and a member of the Germantown Historical Society.

An amateur Civil War historian, Dr. Sher lobbied for a state historical marker at the site of Mower U.S. Army General Hospital at the Wyndmoor train station.

The large complex opened in January 1863 to care for soldiers brought by rail from Southern battlefields. The wounded called the journey, which lasted days of even weeks, "going from the seven circles of hell to heaven on earth."

The marker was dedicated in 2000.

Dr. Sher and his wife shared a love of books, music, art, and travel, especially to Iceland.

They enjoyed long walks along the Wissahickon, where they had their first date, she said.

Besides his wife, Dr. Sher is survived by sons Paul, Ned, and Ben; and six grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held in the spring.

Donations may be made to Friends of the Wissahickon, 8708 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia 19118.