Sheldon Perloff passed away in September 2007 at 60 years of age. He lived in the Florida Keys and was a counselor for the Florida Keys Community College. The college named a classroom for him after his death. - Jeff Strongin

Sheldon Perloff and I had many good tomes together. I remember him on the Fencing Team with me, playing on the train tracks near his house, putting pennies on the tracks and I remember him at my Bar Mitvah. I was sad to see that he died in 2007. He would have been one of the neighborhood memories I would have wanted to recapture.  - Lewis Rothstein

SHELDON 'SHEL' PERLOFF

With his wife, Bobi, and family by his side, Shel Perloff, 59, died on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007, after a long battle with cancer.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pa., he earned both undergraduate and master's degrees in educational psychology from Temple University. In 1973, he and Bobi moved to the Florida Keys, eventually settling in Sugarloaf.

He was a firm believer in the practices of spiritual enlightenment with an emphasis on Siddha yoga and meditation.

He was responsible for expanding and improving CROP (College Reach Out Program), more widely known as the College Explorers, located at Florida Keys Community College. This highly successful program was aimed at creating positive educational opportunities for promising middle school and high school students from the Lower Keys. He also mentored students from the college community. The results from this program are evident by the numbers of young people who have moved on to further educational pursuits, successful business positions and productive private lives. Shel was often recognized for his dedication to the program, receiving numerous awards and citations of excellence from the college, community groups and students.

He is survived by his wife, Bobi; their two sons, Corey of Winchester, Va., and Jesse of Sugarloaf; two daughters-inlaw, Jessica and Jenney; and four grandchildren, Malik, Ethan, Jazlyn and Jenesis.

A memorial service in celebration of Shel's life is planned for 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, at Castillo and Thurston's Key West Mortuary, 328 Truman Ave., Key West. Following the service, friends and guests are invited to join the family at a reception in the FKCC Cafe, 5901 College Road, Stock Island. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the FKCC Educational Foundation directed toward the needs of the College Explorer program.