Dr. Sharon Marie Esposito

Our sister Our aunt Our cousin Our friend Sharon Marie Esposito was an accomplished, warm, and compassionate person loved by many. In her youth, she was recognized as an exceptional student, athlete, and leader. She began serving others through work at The Old Presbyterian Meeting House in Alexandria, Virginia. As a result of her work and relationships there, she felt called to the ministry. She attended Princeton Theological Seminary and was ordained in 1982. She also earned a master's degree in Theological Counseling from Union Presbyterian Seminary and remained in Richmond, Virginia, as an associate pastor at Ginter Park Presbyterian Church. Later in her life she continued to pursue her interest in helping others by entering the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. After graduation, she was board certified in psychiatry. She moved to Athens Georgia, to be near her family and to continue a life in which she helped those who were most in need. She worked at Advantage Behavioral Health Services and then on the psychiatric consult service at Athens Regional Medical Center. Sharon was a devoted member of a large, extended family. She was the eldest member of a group of five strong and vibrant Esposito cousins. She was a fun, favorite aunt for many of her nephews and her niece. She supported them through their developmental years by attending soccer games, sharing wisdom and advice, officiating at the wedding of one, and working with another as a professional colleague. She was present to celebrate with them as they passed successfully through many important life milestones. Sharon loved laughing at children and pets and funny YouTube videos. Her passion for animals was unmatched. She cried for days when her cockatiel, Mosby, died. She bought her first dog on a whim at the North Carolina State Fair. Maggie returned Sharon's love and served as a companion to Sharon through some difficult years. As Sharon neared retirement, she decided to do what made her happiest. She moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, with her Norwich Terriers, Decker and Gunner, and joined a community of women who shared her passion. Their dogs won championships and they had happy adventures at dog shows across the country. These dear friends helped Sharon through difficult years as her health failed. Recently, she enjoyed renewed relationships with childhood friends from Dayton, Ohio. She was sustained, always, by the love of her lifelong friend from Princeton who maintained her loving support for Sharon across 40 years and thousands of miles. Sharon's health problems were many but she fought through them and recovered from multiple medical crises. Then she contracted Covid-19, spent over two weeks on a ventilator in the intensive care unit of St. Francis Hospital, and, on December 9, she passed away. We are thankful for the care she received from those who tried to save her and for their presence when we could not be with her. Now, we mourn her and we celebrate her. We have posted some favorite pictures from Sharon's life throughout all her years. We found many photographs of her as she often was--smiling at or laughing with a child or a pet. We share these pictures for others to enjoy as we remember Sharon. A service for Sharon's family members will be held in Athens, Georgia, at a later date. For those who feel inspired to give, the family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Sharon's memory to the Association for Science in Autism Treatment at https://asatonline.org/donate/

Dr. Sharon Marie Esposito

July 26, 1948 - December 9, 2020