Jerome Ray Sherk

Jerome Ray Sherk, the director of production of the Pittsburgh Opera who was an innovator at operas across the nation, died April 10 after a four-month battle with cancer.  Born in Williamsburg, Mass., Sherk attended the New England Conservatory before transferring to the Manhattan School of Music where he graduated with a double major in theory and French horn performance.  During this time he used his woodworking skills to construct scenery for the preparatory division’s productions under the direction of Cynthia Auerbach, future director of the Chautauqua Opera. His interest in working backstage led him into stage management and, after graduation, he began free-lancing at various companies such as Lake George Opera, Kansas City Opera, and Cincinnati Opera. In 1978 he was hired as technical director and stage manager of the Washington Opera under the leadership of renowned baritone George London. This position ultimately led him to the San Francisco Opera, where he was the production stage manager for 21 years.  During that time he worked with the leading artists of the day such as Luciano Pavarotti, Joan Sutherland, Placido Domingo, Leontyne Price, and Marilyn Horne . He led the company through the production process for numerous challenging works, including the world premiere of “Dead Man Walking.”  While they were still quite controversial, he implemented the projector system for the first supertitles used for opera in America and co-wrote, with Francesca Zambello, the translations for Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle. As the stage manager, he developed systems that are considered standard in the business today and trained countless production people. In 2001 he left the San Francisco Opera to be the director of production at the Opera Company of Philadelphia. In 2004 he took the position of director of production at the New Orleans Opera. In 2008, he became the director of production at the Pittsburgh Opera and was instrumental in the planning of and moving to their new facility in the Strip District. He is survived by his wife, Tara, their two children, Charles and Odette, and his five siblings. Requiem Eucharist will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at First Evangelical Lutheran Church,  615 Grant St., Downtown. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to First Lutheran or the Pittsburgh Opera in the memory of Jerome Sherk.  Arrangements by the Gilbert Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., Boston, Elizabeth Township.  Condolences may be made at www.gilbertfuneralhomeandcrematory.com