Sherman lived in Carrolltown, Pa. He died in a construction site accident on the banks of the Youghiogheny River in Dunbar Township, near Ohiopyle State Park. It was reported that he tried to stop a boulder with his bulldozer that apparently was rolling toward fellow workers installing a pipeline. It smashed into the front of the machine, bounced up and fatally struck Sherman in the chest. He was a member of Local 66, Operating Engineers and employed by Price Construction of Connellsville.