Family of hiker found dead on Labor Day shares story




BETTER DAYS—Above, the family of Jeff Sherman (shown at right). The 64-year-old avid hiker and Thousand Oaks resident was found dead on Sept. 2 in a remote area of Newton Canyon near Zuma Edison Road in the Santa Monica Mountains where he had

BETTER DAYS—Above, the family of Jeff Sherman (shown at right). The 64-year-old avid hiker and Thousand Oaks resident was found dead on Sept. 2 in a remote area of Newton Canyon near Zuma Edison Road in the Santa Monica Mountains where he had

When Ron Sherman spoke to his brother Jeff in Thousand Oaks over the phone Sept. 1, it was to discuss the impending arrival of Ron’s first child. Ron and his partner, who live in Delaware, were expecting a baby boy via a surrogate. Jeff’s daughter was the egg donor.

The pair also talked of the “industrious” Labor Day hike Jeff was planning to take in the mountains outside Malibu the next day.

It was the last time the two would ever talk.

On Sept. 2, Jeff Sherman, 64, was pronounced dead in a remote area of Newton Canyon near Zuma Edison Road in the Santa Monica Mountains. The Los Angeles County coroner’s office has listed as his cause of death cardiopulmonary arrest, likely brought on by heat stroke.

Sherman, a well-known local herbalist and biochemist with a practice in Thousand Oaks, and his hiking party had become lost on the cliff-side trails and ran out of water on the hot summer day.

Ron flew out to California for his brother’s memorial service. Two weeks later, he welcomed his son into the world. He named him after his late brother: Aaron Jeffrey.

Photos courtesy of Sherman Family

Photos courtesy of Sherman Family

“He would have been the grandfather of this beautiful baby,” Ron said. “This has been a profoundly emotional and tear-jerking experience.”

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Jeff Sherman was the CEO of Thousand Oaks Family Well Being on Rolling Oaks Drive. He was also an avid hiker who had raised his three children as a single father.

His son Daniel told The Acorn his father balanced fatherhood with building his holistic practice, which at different times was located in Camarillo, Newbury Park, Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks.

Sherman was a dedicated herbalist who had a deeply-held belief in the power of natural remedies to heal a wide range of physical ailments, his son said.

Daniel said his father would spend an hour and a half with each client before assessing them with a biofeedback machine and recommending a course of treatment— including vitamins, herbs and homeopathics.

At the time of his death, his son said, Sherman’s appointments were booked out three months in advance. He said his father found happiness in helping other people.

“If more people were like that, the world would be a better place,” he said.

Brittany Bishop worked in Sherman’s office for 13 years. The Thousand Oaks resident said Jeff was like a father to her.

“I grew into who I am today due to his love. No matter how much I doubted myself, he always believed in me,” the 35-year-old said. “When I walked into the office, I felt like I was coming home.”

Jeff Sherman grew up in Ohio the youngest of four children. He attended the University of Cincinnati where he graduated with honors with a biochemistry degree. Ron said his brother was a “Renaissance man” who loved music in addition to academics. Daniel added that his father loved dancing and wine tasting.

Daniel said money was tight growing up, but as his father’s financial situation improved later in life, Jeff would take annual family trips with his children to places like Barcelona, Madrid, Amsterdam and southern France. In November, he traveled to Machu Picchu for his birthday.

“Now the plan is my sisters and I will continue that tradition in his honor,” he said.

Sherman also played the clarinet. After his death, his children gave the instrument to Ron and his partner.

“Maybe our baby will learn to play clarinet,” Ron said.