Sheridan Hotung, founder of Genesis Reading, lived a life defined by passion – for her family, for learning, for justice, for connection, and for helping others to see what they could not recognize in themselves. She died peacefully at home in Skillman on January 2, 2026, surrounded by love, having lived a life that was full, generous, and profoundly meaningful. She was 52.
Sheridan is survived by her husband, John Pickeral; and four children: Tristan (24), Saskia (21), Leif (19), and Mary (11).
Her husband said on social media, "Sheridan was an extraordinary human being — the best mother on the planet to her four children, an incredible dog-mom, a gifted teacher, and a creative visionary with an unshakable passion for literacy.
"She believed deeply that reading is freedom, and she devoted her life to serving those most at risk — children with dyslexia, incarcerated individuals, and anyone who had been told they were 'behind' or 'unable.' She never stopped learning, and she never stopped teaching. Growth — personal, intellectual, and spiritual — mattered deeply to her, and she encouraged it everywhere she went."
Sheridan was the founder of Genesis Reading, where she she created programs that empowered learners and educators alike. Her work was grounded in the Science of Reading, though it was her passion that made it transformative. She would say that learning should be rigorous and joyful, structured and human. She had an extraordinary ability to explain the most complex ideas with clarity, creativity, and humor. She stayed up late practicing, preparing, teaching, encouraging, and rethinking — always searching for better ways to help others succeed. Whether she was tutoring a child at a kitchen table, mentoring a colleague through a difficult concept, or gently encouraging a stranger she had just met in a coffee shop, Sheridan showed up fully and wholeheartedly.
Outreach was a way of life that her husband and children will continue to abide as they carry her legacy forward through Genesis.
Sheridan had a rare gift for connection. She could meet anyone — a student, a colleague, our children, nieces and nephews, a contractor at our house, a server at a restaurant, an Uber driver — and leave them feeling seen, valued, and encouraged. Wherever we went, she noticed what would delight others and found ways to share it.
Born in Hong Kong on March 27, 1973, Sheridan was the great-granddaughter of Sir Robert Hotung, Kt, KBE — one of Hong Kong's leading financiers and philanthropists, according to The New York Times. She was the daughter of the late Eric Edward Hotung, CBE, and Patricia Anne Shea Hotung, and the youngest child of a family of eight siblings.
Sheridan was raised in Greenwich, Connecticut. She graduated from Greenwich Academy and Georgetown University College of Arts and Sciences. She then worked in the fashion and creative industries at Trish McEvoy Cosmetics and Cartier. She earned a Montessori diploma, focusing on a child-centric philosophies that emphasise early development, practical life skills, sensorial education, and academic subjects, and also founded Crestwood Montessori School in New Jersey.
She became a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) and then formed Genesis Reading LLC, an educational platform that transformed literacy for children, parents, and educators through science-based reading intervention. She was a dedicated educator and an admired leader in her field, specializing in the care and teaching of children with special needs. At the time of her passing, she was leading an ambitious project to distribute a game she had created, Vowel Powa(R), for children challenged with orthodox teaching methods in reading and writing.
Sheridan made time between her family life and her professional career to help many, and in addition to her charitable donations, she also volunteered for the Washington, DC Prison System, helping inmates to improve their basic educational skills.
In addition to her husband and children, Sheridan is survived by her siblings Michael, Eric, Sean, Tony, Mara, and Gabrielle, as well as a community of friends, colleagues, students, educators, and families whose lives she forever changed. She was preceded in death by her parents, Patricia and Eric Hotung (d. 2017); her brother Robert Hotung; and her best friend Johanna Corrigan.
A celebration of Sheridan's life was held on January 8 at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Skillman.
Memorial donations may be given via her GoFundMe page: Help Us Carry Forward Sheridan Hotung’s Legacy Through Literacy.
