Dr. Aaron E. Sher

Albany - Aaron Emanuel Sher died on April 26, 2024 after a long illness. He was surrounded by family and friends.

Aaron was born on September 5, 1945 in New York City. Shortly after, he and his parents, Joseph and Beulah Sher, moved to the Bronx, a neighborhood for which he would always have a deep affection.

Aaron graduated from Queens College Summa Cum Laude. After attending medical school at New York University on a full scholarship, he completed a residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in otolaryngology. After residency, he entered the navy as a lieutenant commander and otolaryngologist, stationed in Yokosuka, Japan. His time in Japan proved to be one of the most rewarding and meaningful experiences of his life. He would later say that living far from home helped him fully grow into himself. In a letter to his parents written shortly before his time in Japan ended, he said “Now, it is time to return home and find a wife!”

He returned to New York City to begin a fellowship at Beth Israel Hospital in Head and Neck Surgery, where a friend introduced him to Nina Streisand, a teacher. They were married in 1981, and their relationship was the center of Aaron’s life. Indeed, although many thought of Aaron as a brilliant doctor and scientist, he was also a great romantic. He loved spending time with her more than anything else, and loved supporting her as they had children and she pursued her own careers.

Nina and Aaron expanded their family with Ben in 1983. Shortly before their daughter Jackie was born in 1986, they moved to Albany, New York, so Aaron could join Capital Region Otolaryngology. They found a wonderful community there, and Aaron ultimately expanded his practice to open The Capital Region Sleep/Wake Center, where he became the medical director. In doing this, he further developed a subspeciality that he began early in his career, as one of the pioneers in the study of sleep and sleep disorders. At first, the specialty was rejected by many physicians who found it irrelevant, and Sher and his fellow pioneers were considered somewhat unpopular renegades. However, it became an enormous and thriving area of medicine, and Aaron got a kick out of it when President Joe Biden publicly stated that he sleeps with a C-PAP machine to treat his sleep apnea. Throughout his career, he presented many papers and authored numerous chapters.

Although Aaron’s academic achievements were world-class, he found the most meaning and satisfaction in caring for his patients. He was known for his extraordinary bedside manner, and typically spent far longer than the allotted appointment time with each patient so he could get to know them fully, which resulted in crowded waiting rooms and long days for him! However, his patients agreed that the wait times were worth it. People contacted him frequently—sometimes decades after he had treated them—to tell him how he had changed their lives. In his work, Aaron was also a fierce advocate for ethics in medicine, even when they went against commercial interests.

Aaron adored, and took great pride in, his children, who are as fiery and passionate as he. He often found their particular passions eccentric and incomprehensible, but was always curious about them and supportive of them. He was known to drop everything at a moment’s notice and drive or fly anywhere to be with them if they needed him, and both considered him a best friend.

Aaron’s favorite movie was It’s a Wonderful Life, and he was a lot like that film’s hero, George Bailey. He always put the needs of his loved ones and his community before his own; he unwaveringly fought for what was right, even when it made him unpopular with those who had other agendas; and he left the lives of all he touched profoundly better than they would have been without him. Like George Bailey, he never thought he did enough.

He is survived by his wife Nina, children Ben Sher (Jason Tomasian) and Jackie Schillinger (Eric), grandchildren Abby and Hannah Schillinger, sister Edith Flitt (Norman), and many loving friends and relatives.

Funeral services for Aaron will be held on Sunday April 28th at 12:00 pm at The Levine Memorial Chapel, 649 Washington Ave. in Albany. Burial will follow at Independent Benevolent Cemetery on Fuller Rd. in Albany.

Shiva will be held at the Sher residence on Sunday April 28th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm and on Monday April 29th from 5:00 - 7:00 pm.

Aaron’s family would like to thank the staff of the Daughters of Sarah Community for Seniors, who treated Aaron and his family like their own. Words cannot adequately express their gratitude. In memory of Aaron, contributions may be made to Daughters of Sarah, 180 Washington Ave. Ext. Albany, NY 12203 or at daughtersofsarah.org

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