POPLAR RIDGE - It was quite the show and despite some sadness, a laughter-filled celebration.
The life of Cindy Sharshon was honored Sunday before a crowd of more than 200 who gathered in the Southern Cayuga High School auditorium to remember their friend, teacher, colleague and loved one.
Sharshon, 49, died of liver cancer Nov. 7. She had been diagnosed just nine months before. On Sunday, she was remembered through anecdotes, poems, and plenty of show tunes in a touching and heartfelt ceremony.
Her husband, Glenn Sharshon, urged the audience not to mourn. His beloved wife would have wanted to be remembered with happiness on the kind of crisp late-fall afternoon that was perfect to go for a walk with her dogs.
“This is not a time of sadness, this is a time of celebration,” said Sharshon. “No tears, I insist.”
Many in the audience could not help themselves. And after a group of students finished singing “Can't You See A Brand New Day?” many began to cry. Others put their heads on a friend's shoulder.
That first song, from the musical “The Wiz,” begins with the lyrics, “everybody look around, 'cause there's a reason to rejoice.” Four more songs would be sung, from musicals that ranged from “Fiddler on the Roof” (“To Life”) to “Wicked” (“For Good”).
Sharshon was a fan of musical theater and she helped the students each year with their annual production by perfecting the technical aspects.
“She was a very good woman. She was great to all the kids. Good-hearted, genuine,” said Evan McGonagle, who graduated last year. His sister, Lee, sang a lovely, slow-tempo version of the song “Tomorrow” from the musical “Annie.”
The spring musical for 2008 will be “Grease.” Eddie Richter was in that show, and he sang yesterday with his classmates.
“If you needed anything done, she was the person you went to - lighting, sound, anything,” Richter said.
An employee of the district for nearly 30 years, Sharshon grew up in Stamford, a rural community east of Oneonta. She graduated from Ithaca College, and was an audio-video aide for all grade levels. She was also the faculty advisor for the National Honor Society and hosted foreign exchange students.
To help the children deal with their loss, Emily Howland Elementary School was closed for the entire day Nov. 8, and the middle school and high school held half-day sessions.
Sharshon was active and caring outside of the classroom as well. Cheryl Jackson began her remembrance by reciting a list of her friend's favorite activities - traveling to the Grand Canyon, enjoying good food and wine, being with her beloved animals, and so much more.
Photos from Sharshon's life scrolled on a large screen onstage. In front of the lectern, there was a large bouquet of flowers, along with a couple dozen stuffed animals - dogs, of course. The stuffed animals will be donated to Toys For Tots and the Ithaca SPCA.
Luke Carnicelli has been the principal at Southern Cayuga since March. Carnicelli said he was lucky to have someone such as Sharshon help him during his transition to a new job.
“She was the glue to what we have going on here, a wonderful person. Any questions, Cindy had the answers,” Carnicelli said.
Laura Heslop, the president of the National Honor Society last year, looked out over the audience and wondered, “how many lives have been touched by Mrs. Sharshon.
“She was always going out of her way to help others,” she said.
The Mandel family also remembered their friend and teacher with funny recollections. Dana and Linda Mandel recalled their time together with the Sharshons, and their daughter, Aliza, sang.
The Sharshon's daughter, Larissa, is now a student at her mother's alma mater. Her brother, Michael, is a sophomore at Southern Cayuga.
“She would do anything for you without expecting anything in return,” her daughter said. “She truly loved her life and everyone that was in it.”
Gloria Jackson gave the closing remarks and the audience went to the cafeteria to share stories and a pot-luck dinner.
One of the last images flashed onstage was from A.A. Milne's “Winnie the Pooh.” The little bear is surrounded in a semi-circle by Piglet and three others, and the caption reflects how Sharshon lived her life - “a little Consideration, a little Thought for Others, makes all the Difference.”
Sharshon, 49, died of liver cancer Nov. 7. She had been diagnosed just nine months before. On Sunday, she was remembered through anecdotes, poems, and plenty of show tunes in a touching and heartfelt ceremony.
Her husband, Glenn Sharshon, urged the audience not to mourn. His beloved wife would have wanted to be remembered with happiness on the kind of crisp late-fall afternoon that was perfect to go for a walk with her dogs.
“This is not a time of sadness, this is a time of celebration,” said Sharshon. “No tears, I insist.”
Many in the audience could not help themselves. And after a group of students finished singing “Can't You See A Brand New Day?” many began to cry. Others put their heads on a friend's shoulder.
That first song, from the musical “The Wiz,” begins with the lyrics, “everybody look around, 'cause there's a reason to rejoice.” Four more songs would be sung, from musicals that ranged from “Fiddler on the Roof” (“To Life”) to “Wicked” (“For Good”).
Sharshon was a fan of musical theater and she helped the students each year with their annual production by perfecting the technical aspects.
“She was a very good woman. She was great to all the kids. Good-hearted, genuine,” said Evan McGonagle, who graduated last year. His sister, Lee, sang a lovely, slow-tempo version of the song “Tomorrow” from the musical “Annie.”
The spring musical for 2008 will be “Grease.” Eddie Richter was in that show, and he sang yesterday with his classmates.
“If you needed anything done, she was the person you went to - lighting, sound, anything,” Richter said.
An employee of the district for nearly 30 years, Sharshon grew up in Stamford, a rural community east of Oneonta. She graduated from Ithaca College, and was an audio-video aide for all grade levels. She was also the faculty advisor for the National Honor Society and hosted foreign exchange students.
To help the children deal with their loss, Emily Howland Elementary School was closed for the entire day Nov. 8, and the middle school and high school held half-day sessions.
Sharshon was active and caring outside of the classroom as well. Cheryl Jackson began her remembrance by reciting a list of her friend's favorite activities - traveling to the Grand Canyon, enjoying good food and wine, being with her beloved animals, and so much more.
Photos from Sharshon's life scrolled on a large screen onstage. In front of the lectern, there was a large bouquet of flowers, along with a couple dozen stuffed animals - dogs, of course. The stuffed animals will be donated to Toys For Tots and the Ithaca SPCA.
Luke Carnicelli has been the principal at Southern Cayuga since March. Carnicelli said he was lucky to have someone such as Sharshon help him during his transition to a new job.
“She was the glue to what we have going on here, a wonderful person. Any questions, Cindy had the answers,” Carnicelli said.
Laura Heslop, the president of the National Honor Society last year, looked out over the audience and wondered, “how many lives have been touched by Mrs. Sharshon.
“She was always going out of her way to help others,” she said.
The Mandel family also remembered their friend and teacher with funny recollections. Dana and Linda Mandel recalled their time together with the Sharshons, and their daughter, Aliza, sang.
The Sharshon's daughter, Larissa, is now a student at her mother's alma mater. Her brother, Michael, is a sophomore at Southern Cayuga.
“She would do anything for you without expecting anything in return,” her daughter said. “She truly loved her life and everyone that was in it.”
Gloria Jackson gave the closing remarks and the audience went to the cafeteria to share stories and a pot-luck dinner.
One of the last images flashed onstage was from A.A. Milne's “Winnie the Pooh.” The little bear is surrounded in a semi-circle by Piglet and three others, and the caption reflects how Sharshon lived her life - “a little Consideration, a little Thought for Others, makes all the Difference.”
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Farmer's Gal wrote on Nov 19, 2007 12:05 PM: