John J. Sherlock, 53; he drew readers in with his art

JOHN J. SHERLOCK JR. didn't like anything ordinary.

When he and his wife, Karen, were looking for a home, they were appalled by the "cookie-cutter" housing developments around Philly. They settled on a house built in 1891. Sure, it needed a lot of work, but John was a handyman who loved to tinker.

And when it came to cars, he favored the old Hudson. A far cry from the equally cookie-cutter cars out of Detroit and Japan these days, the Hudson was unique, with unusual styling and roadability you appreciated on the curves. John had five of them, dating from 1925 to 1951, which he lovingly restored.

John Sherlock, a design editor at the Daily News for 19 years, whose front-page layouts expressed the uniqueness of the tabloid's approach to the news, an imaginative cook, world-traveler, and devoted family man, died Oct. 21 of a blood clot that affected his heart. He was 53 and lived in Langhorne.

"John designed powerful front pages - whimsical or serious, depending on the subject, but always telling and selling the story in true Daily News style," said the paper's news editor, Kevin Bevan.

"John was a very talented and creative man whose abilites were there for all to see in the striking Page One covers of the Daily News," said Managing Editor Pat McLoone. "He was a quiet gentleman who strived for excellence on the pages he touched."

"John's artistic talent, even temperament and love of old-time radio shows and Hudson automobiles made him one of the more interesting people to talk to in a newsroom full of interesting people," said City Editor Gar Joseph.

Page designer Darlene Waties remarked on "a loss of a talent who always strived for perfection and rarely settled for less."

"He was a creative genius," said columnist Jenice Armstrong. "He was one of the unsung heroes of the Daily News."

Earlier in his career, John worked on the prototype design for USA Today when it was being created in 1982 in Arlington, Va., by the Gannett Co., and he continued with the newspaper in the graphics department until the early '90s.

He was born in Syracuse, N.Y., to John J. Sherlock Sr. and Virginia Sherlock. His father died in August.

John graduated from Bishop Ludden High School and the State University of New York at Oswego. He earned a master's degree in fine arts from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

He was working for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle when he was asked to help create USA Today.

After that came a brief stint at the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., but John missed the changing seasons and returned north.

He and the former Karen Perrella were married in 1983.

John started at the Daily News in 1992. He was laid off in July.

John's love affair with Hudson cars led him to acquire many of the classic vehicles. At his death, he had a 1925 and a 1942 Hudson, a 1940 Hudson truck, a 1950 convertible and a 1951 Hornet.

He was an active member of the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club, and traveled throughout the U.S. to attend its meetings and conventions. He was an eastern regional director.

He loved traveling, and he and his wife visited the United Kingdom and Russia.

As a cook, John applied his creative talents to whipping up culinary delights from recipes he would find. One of his sons said his burgers "were the bomb," according to his wife.

Another interest was horticulture. "He was always looking for something new and different for the garden," his wife said. "He loved to visit Longwood Gardens, arboretums and garden centers looking for unusual plants.

"He was a wonderful husband and father. He was loving and supportive. He had a great sense of humor. He was quick with a joke."

Besides his wife, he is survived by his mother; two sons, Zachary and Austin; and five sisters, Kathleen Sherlock, Kelly Rinaldi, Kara Greene, Kristine Sherlock and Julie Fishman.

Services: Were Oct. 28 in Syracuse. Burial was in Garland Cemetery, Clarkson, N.Y.