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Herman was born in Stamford on July 15, 1929, to Mary Inzitari Herman and Walter W. Herman. He was a member of the Stamford High School Class of 1947 and served in the 43rd Infantry Division 192nd Field Artillery Battalion as a master sergeant during the Korean War.
He began his professional career in the auto body business alongside his father. He worked at Loh Ford and then joined Redmond Chevrolet as manager of the marine division. In 1967, he founded and was president of Shippan Shore Marina. In 1972, he established John W. Herman Marine Center Inc. and presided as its president for the remainder of his career. He was one of the original Boston Whaler dealers and well-respected for being among the top-quality dealerships in the country.
Herman was a lifetime member of both the Halloween and Ponus yacht clubs and St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Stamford. He designed his own home on Westcott Cove, where he lived his dream for the past 47 years. In retirement, his home was his hobby. His recreational time was spent on the waters of Long Island Sound, boating, sailing and skiing with his children, grandchildren and friends. Another favorite pastime was traveling with his wife and family in his motor home.
In addition to his mother Mary, Herman is survived by his devoted wife of 64 years, Victoria Gostomski Herman; a son, John W. Herman Jr. (Mary Katherine); a daughter, Vicki Ann Druehl (William III); and a son-in-law John Parrish (Maureen). He is also survived by 10 grandchildren. Herman was predeceased by his father; a daughter, Tama Herman Parrish; and his sister, Rochelle Herman Schiller.
Family and friends may call at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Ave., Stamford, on Friday, Jan. 23, from 4 to 8 p.m.
A procession will be leaving the funeral home Saturday, Jan. 24, at 9:45 a.m. for a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, 566 Elm St., Stamford. Interment will follow at Spring Grove Cemetery, Darien.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or to the Bennett Cancer Center, c/o Stamford Hospital Foundation, 1351 Washington Blvd., Stamford, CT 06902.
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