Kathy Lowe is a past president of MSLA, and has recently retired as the Executive Director of MSLA.
I first met Sharon about 20 years ago when we were both high school librarians in the Boston Public Schools. At the time, I was immediately aware of her intellect, competence and innovative ideas, but I didn’t really know much else about her beyond our professional interactions. After a few years, she and Richard relocated to Connecticut and we lost touch, but years later, when I had become the Executive Director of the Massachusetts School Library Association, Sharon returned to Massachusetts to take on the revitalization of the library at the Belmonte Middle School in Saugus and she became active in MSLA, ultimately joining the executive board as an area director, participating in planning our annual conference, and serving as MSLA’s representative to the Affiliate Assembly of the American Association of School Librarians. I was impressed by Sharon’s directness and the practical and creative ideas she generously shared with her colleagues. And she wasn’t at all shy about curtailing rambling executive board and conference committee discussions, ensuring our meetings DID NOT run overtime. One of my favorite memories of Sharon during this time was when she and another colleague energized the attendees at our annual conference with their altered version of the song Titanium, soon having us all belting out “I am Librarian!”
I got to know more about Sharon when we traveled together to national library conferences – and sometimes Richard tagged along, as did my husband Rick. I learned that Sharon had to stay someplace with a pool so she could swim every day – and in Chicago, she and Richard even swam in Lake Michigan. They also had a talent for finding great restaurants where we enjoyed some terrific meals and lively conversation. This is also when I found out that Sharon and Richard were rabid karaoke fans and managed to find a karaoke bar in any city we visited.
Sharon and Richard are one of the most interesting couples I have ever met. What I’ll never forget was the conference in Las Vegas when the members of our MSLA contingent received a mysterious email from Sharon instructing us to meet her and Richard at a particular address and time – and NOT to do our librarian thing and Google the address to find out what is was – to just show up. So, at the designated time, we found ourselves in a somewhat sketchy neighborhood at a Vegas wedding chapel, where Richard dressed in suit and tie, and Sharon wearing veil and a white, strapless dress (that she later shared was actually a long skirt, but on Sharon, it was a dress), proceeded to renew their marriage vows. Then Richard opened his laptop, launched his karaoke app and they sang (I bet can you guess) “Going’ to the Chapel”.
Few couples I know would take the risk of renting an apartment in Paris for a year, sight unseen, in order to be immersed in the daily life and culture of the city where they spent their honeymoon. It was such a treat for me and Rick a couple of years ago to join Sharon and Richard for dinner in La Marais.
Following Sharon on Facebook has allowed me to witness how carefully she maintained her relationships with old friends, former colleagues and students, and her travels to visit with many of them in person. The many accolades posted on her Facebook page, particularly from former students, are a testament to the impact she had on the people in her life. I always enjoyed seeing her photos of the annual trip to P-Town and looked forward to reading her Paris blogs. She was a great storyteller and always seemed to be at the center of a smiling crowd.
Sharon was a fearless risk-taker, open, edgy, accepting, inclusive and fun. She didn’t waste one second of the time she had here on earth. We read about how people later in life often regret not having travelled more or losing touch with friends. This can’t be said of Sharon. Hers was a life lived to the fullest, with no regrets or wasted time, and lots of love and laughter. We should all take a page from Sharon’s book: Carpe diem!
Sharon and Richard are one of the most interesting couples I have ever met. What I’ll never forget was the conference in Las Vegas when the members of our MSLA contingent received a mysterious email from Sharon instructing us to meet her and Richard at a particular address and time – and NOT to do our librarian thing and Google the address to find out what is was – to just show up. So, at the designated time, we found ourselves in a somewhat sketchy neighborhood at a Vegas wedding chapel, where Richard dressed in suit and tie, and Sharon wearing veil and a white, strapless dress (that she later shared was actually a long skirt, but on Sharon, it was a dress), proceeded to renew their marriage vows. Then Richard opened his laptop, launched his karaoke app and they sang (I bet can you guess) “Going’ to the Chapel”.
Few couples I know would take the risk of renting an apartment in Paris for a year, sight unseen, in order to be immersed in the daily life and culture of the city where they spent their honeymoon. It was such a treat for me and Rick a couple of years ago to join Sharon and Richard for dinner in La Marais.
Following Sharon on Facebook has allowed me to witness how carefully she maintained her relationships with old friends, former colleagues and students, and her travels to visit with many of them in person. The many accolades posted on her Facebook page, particularly from former students, are a testament to the impact she had on the people in her life. I always enjoyed seeing her photos of the annual trip to P-Town and looked forward to reading her Paris blogs. She was a great storyteller and always seemed to be at the center of a smiling crowd.
Sharon was a fearless risk-taker, open, edgy, accepting, inclusive and fun. She didn’t waste one second of the time she had here on earth. We read about how people later in life often regret not having travelled more or losing touch with friends. This can’t be said of Sharon. Hers was a life lived to the fullest, with no regrets or wasted time, and lots of love and laughter. We should all take a page from Sharon’s book: Carpe diem!
