Newtown School Shooting Victim Mary Sherlach Honored

The town Mary Sherlach called home is honoring her in a special way. 

Town council in Trumbull, CT voted unanimously Monday night to rename the Trumbull Counseling Center after her.

Sherlarch, a school psychologist, was killed in the shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, on Dec. 14, 2012. 

Sherlach's daughter, Maura Schwartz, and Maura's husband, Eric Schwartz, are Deptford residents. Eric Schwartz is a regular freelancer for Patch, covering high-school sports in South Jersey. 

Sherlach's husband William Sherlach, attended the Trumbull council meeting Monday night. 

Before the vote, First Selectman Tim Herbst said Sherlach gave her life for the students and teachers at Sandy Hook, and deserved the honor. He added that William Sherlach was an example of strength.

Herbst gave more extensive remarks in his statement on the town website.

Sherlach, the school’s psychologist, has been hailed as a hero in the deadly shootings, and Maura Schwartz confirmed that her mother put herself in the line of fire.

In a previous interview, Maura Schwartz said that on the morning of the shooting, her mother was in a meeting with other staff members at the school when they heard glass breaking and ran into the hallway.

“It very quickly dawned on my mom what was happening, and she warned them back. My mom and Dawn warned those people back,” Maura Schwartz said, referring to the school’s principal, Dawn Hochsprung. 

Hochsprung also died in the shooting.

On Monday, Trumbull Town Council Chairman Carl Massaro Jr., who usually does not vote because of his position, voted yes along with his colleagues. 

They did not comment, but Massaro simply said, "The motion is carried and the counseling center will be renamed in the memory of Mary Sherlach."

Thos inside the Town Council chamber then burst into applause, which William Sherlach stood and accepted.

An official renaming ceremony will be held in the spring, Herbst has said.