SOMERS, N.Y. - The community is coming together to honor the life and legacy of Somers’ Olivia Katherine Sherry, a beloved daughter, teacher, and volunteer whose sudden passing in 2024 left a lasting mark on all who knew her.
Her family has announced the creation of the Live Like Livy Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting literacy, education, mentoring, and community service - the very passions that defined Olivia’s life.
“She was at a wonderful stage of her life, and was about to continue to do great things,” said her father, Pat Sherry. “This foundation is our way of carrying on the things she would have done, and making sure her spirit continues to touch others.”
A Life of Service
Olivia grew up in Somers, attending local schools before graduating from Kennedy Catholic. Known throughout town for her infectious energy, she was a familiar presence at Somers sporting events - first working in the concession stand, and taking on game day music and spotting duties in the announcer's booth at Tusker football games.
“She was pretty visible throughout Somers as she was always involved in community service and volunteering,” her father recalls.
After earning both her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Clemson University, Olivia began her teaching career in South Carolina, where she had also completed her student teaching.
Teaching wasn’t just her profession - it was her calling.
“She never wanted to be anything else. I would mention other careers to her and she would just roll her eyes and remind me she only wanted to teach children. That was it,” Sherry says.
Her commitment to service was evident throughout her life. She won the Somers Women’s Club Leadership Scholarship, volunteered as a counselor at Somers Special Education Camp, taught CCD and worked as a strategic mentor for student-athletes at Clemson - becoming the longest-serving and youngest strategic mentor in the program’s history.
Living with Heart
Olivia was born with a congenital heart defect, undergoing open-heart surgery at just four months old. Despite the challenges, she lived fully and fearlessly, even serving as a junior chairperson for the American Heart Association’s Westchester chapter.
“She showed people that kids born with this condition can thrive in life and live without limitations,” her father explains.
Tragically, Olivia passed away last year at age 23 due to a sudden arrhythmia in her sleep. Her family takes comfort in the fact that she had just returned home from South Carolina, had accomplished her life-long goal of becoming a teacher, and passed peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones.
The Symbol of the Bee
In the days following Olivia’s passing, her family began to notice bees appearing in unexpected places - from the buttons on her burial dress to wedding ceremonies and even in gifts from strangers.
“The bee became her symbol,” says Sherry. “ They just kept showing up at magical times, almost as if she was giving us signs.”
That symbol now graces much of the foundation’s work, tying Olivia’s legacy to a message of resilience, dedication, and connection.
Foundation Initiatives
The Live Like Livy Foundation has already begun rolling out programs and partnerships reflecting Olivia’s passions:
Literacy & Reading Programs: Olivia, an avid reader who devoured 50–70 books a year, started book clubs and encouraged others to read. The foundation is partnering with Little Free Library to create “Olivia’s Book Hives” across the country, with the first one installed in Seattle. The foundation has also joined forces with “Reading Partners," a mentoring organization dedicated to children’s literacy.
Scholarships: An annual scholarship at Kennedy Catholic will support students pursuing careers in education, reflecting Olivia’s lifelong dream of teaching.
Community Service Awards: Schools and organizations have created multiple annual awards in Olivia’s name, including “Olivia’s Light” in the Anderson One School District in South Carolina, “Olivia’s Light” at Clemson’s School of Education, and the “Olivia Sherry Legacy Award” at Clemson Athletic Academic Services.
Fundraising Partnerships: A jewelry boutique, inspired by a serendipitous encounter with Olivia’s family, has designed a line of jewelry in her name, with proceeds benefiting the foundation.
Carrying Olivia Forward
From the football helmet stickers at Kennedy to volleyball matches played in her honor, Olivia’s memory continues to inspire acts of kindness, service, and love.
In the spring, Olivia was given the “Divine Compassion Award” by Kennedy Catholic, gratefully accepted by her parents
"We really want to thank the Somers community, the Kennedy Catholic community, and our family and friends for the enormous amount of love and support since Olivia’s passing," Sherry adds. "We could not get through this without them."
Her father hopes the foundation will ensure that her energy and enthusiasm live on:
“The Live Like Livy Foundation is about carrying her forward - her joy, her love of reading, her dedication to teaching, and her passion for community. She made a significant impact at every stage of her life, and this is our way of making sure she continues to make a difference in the world.”
To learn more, visit www.livelikelivy.com.
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