Sharon is 84 years old. Born to a single mother, she grew up in Southern California. Before she entered first grade, she nearly lost her mother to suicide. Sharon made her mother promise never to attempt it again. They continued to live together and support each other until her mother passed away in 1981.

Sharon became the first person in her family to attend college. After graduation, she spent 40 years as a teacher, helping generations of elementary and middle school students—primarily in Northern California and Pennsylvania—expand their understanding of the world. Over the years, she outlived her husband and, later, her partner in a senior romance..

Now living in a senior home, Sharon continues to bring people together. She has organized and directed a play performed by her fellow residents, much like the productions she once led w ...