Community Moment
By Chrishelle Thomas-Haynes
Association Forum is saddened to share that John R. Waxman, former president of The Sherwood Group and a lifelong association professional, passed away on September 27, 2026. He was 75.
John joined Organization Management Systems Inc. (OMSI) in 1986 as an account executive and became its president in 1990. In 1992, he and colleague Greg Schultz purchased the firm and renamed it The Sherwood Group, after Sherwood Forest, the place in a favorite movie “where the good guys hung out.” Liz Freyn joined them as a partner in 1997. Together they built a respected association management company known for integrity, deep commitment to clients, and a workplace where people grew.
Over a quarter century, John helped guide dozens of nonprofit organizations and supported hundreds of staff members and volunteer leaders. He believed in doing what was right for staff and clients, even when the choices were hard. Many former Sherwood colleagues still credit their time there as the foundation of their careers.
John was a star in the association world and loved by many. He was a proud member of Association Forum, and his influence reached well beyond Sherwood. Many of our volunteers and leaders count him among the people who shaped how they lead and how they serve.
“John Waxman was a leader in the association community. He built The Sherwood Group with a culture of integrity and an attitude of ‘What is best for the clients is best for Sherwood.’ He mentored so many association professionals, including me. I am lucky to have been able to learn from him, and he will be dearly missed.”
- Vicki Loise, CMP, CAE, Association Forum Board Chair
John also served on the board of the Association Management Company Institute. In 2015, he oversaw Sherwood’s sale to a larger firm to open new opportunities for his staff and new resources for his clients, then retired to spend more time with family.
Raised on Chicago’s South Side, John met his wife, Jan, as a teenager and shared 52 years of marriage with her. He was a loyal Cubs, Bulls and Bears fan, a reader of political thrillers, and a crossword solver who always worked in ink. Above all, he treasured his family, especially his three grandchildren.
John is survived by his wife, Jan; daughters Holly Waxman and Jennifer (Filipp Kirik) Koshak; grandchildren Cash, Quinn and Coco; brother Scott (Madeleine) Waxman; and nieces and nephews.
Our thoughts are with John’s family, his friends, and the many association professionals who called him a colleague and mentor.
Memorial Service
- Friday, October 2, 2026, 12:15 p.m.
- Shalom Memorial Funeral Home, 1700 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois
- Viewing, shiva, and condolence details: shalommemorial.org
- Memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation or the American Macular Degeneration Foundation.
Read John’s full obituary, sign the guestbook, or view the memorial service livestream at Shalom Memorial.