A LIFE WELL LIVED

 

It was with sad news that we received Friday, my dear uncle Jack Sharrets Elder passed on. He was my favorite uncle who was married to my favorite Aunt Barbara I always talk of who passed on back in 2021. His eldest son had called a week prior to Christmas to let us now that his heart was only functioning at about 20%, so we at least could see it coming. I think he was more than ready to be with my aunt again. He had always missed her so, they were married for 68 years after all. When he decided to move to South Carolina to be near his oldest son and his wife, who just built a home there, I know it was a hard decision for him to sell their house in Italian Lake, where they settled upon moving back to Harrisburg from Westfield NJ, and her presence could be felt all over the house. He lived a good life up to the end at 94. He really seemed to enjoy the retirement village he moved into. We actually had plans to go down this summer to visit.

I credit him and my aunt for my inspiration and love in the arts and classical music, gardening, a first introduction to gin and being mindful and respectful of Mother Earth and its inhabitants. He was swell too. Witty, funny, a jokester, and could regale many stories. And heavens, did he ever love reading about history of any kind. I think he read just about every book ever published on the Roosevelts. He also loved anything and everything about trains. Loved riding them too. And loved his science. He also got into astronomy in later years.

 My uncle grew up in the Yardley/New Hope area and was an only child. His education started at Rutgers University and finished up in Carlisle at Dickinson College, with majors in chemistry and physics.  While in Carlisle was where he met my aunt at one of their dances. They hit off. I can recall her telling of stories of him bringing her cigarettes to her nursing dorm. Because men weren't allowed in, she'd lower a thin rope down and he'd tie the pack of cigs to it! They dated for some times before he joined the service in the army. He eventually got stationed in Alaska, and she followed suit and continued her nursing education there. They lived in a Airstream for close to two years, and got married on the quiet, kept it a secret for close to two years too. At the time, women couldn't be married while in nursing school. It wasn't till they had the first child, and my aunt got unnerved at seeing a moose peering in the windows that they moved back to Carlise.... they announced they were married and had a child. Once out of the service, and my aunt got her nursing degree they moved to Westfield NJ, where he taught at Westfield High for close to 30 years as a professor in chemistry and physics. They went on the have 6 children. Once the empty nest hit, after a few years they moved back to Harrisburg in 95 and Jack went right back to teaching for close to another 10 years at the Harrisburg Academy before finally retiring. I can't recall a time when we were out with them, that he'd run into some of his past students who would love seeing him, and many would say how they just loved him as a teacher and he was an inspiration to them as well. I remember once when he had me do him up in drag for Halloween to teach class once!!! I can recall when he announced his retirement, the Academy tried to sweeten the pot to get him to say on and teach part time...but enough was enough for him. He also stayed busy with Dickinson events and alumni events, he was tickled when two of his grandkids went their too. And very generous. He was a patron to three symphonies his late son was a member of, even after his son's passing, and donated the voilà to a child in need who couldn't afford an instrument. He gave to a few PBS stations, and classical stations, numerous environmental groups and was a member of the Audubon Society. Could that be where me love of birds started too?

Once I moved back to Harrisburg after my aunt's passing, he and my mother would get together almost every weekend for dinner. I joined if I wasn't traveling. We would also take him to the farmers market, where it seemed everyone, there know him. The guy I know at the butchers said he and my aunt were like the mayor and mayoress...everyone apparently loved them. It will break my heart to have to tell them this week when I go to get provisions for New Years dinner that he passed. Even though he moved over a year and half ago, they would still ask about him.  While it was expected it was still a bit shocking and sad to know another piece of our family is gone. I count myself very lucky and rare to have had such an accepting family for being gay, and he didn't even blink an eye when he saw me in drag the first time! Both of them were always very supportive in my decisions, and both shaped me as much as my own parents and grandparents. And for this I'm truly grateful. Not to mention he was a blazing liberal like the rest of the family

55 anniversary

Before we received the call that day, I think I already knew. I opened my curtains that morning to find three red cardinals in the bush outside the window. A sign for sure. When a red cardinal visits, it's a sign that a loved one is nearby and thinking of you. They were a favorite of his, my aunt and my grandmother and there were three in the bush. I like to think it was them greeting him into Fabulon.

Uncle Jack

April 15 1931- December 26 2025