Sharon L. Manzari

Sharon L. Manzari, 84, of Mineral, Virginia, passed away on December 18th, 2023, surrounded by her loved ones. She is survived by her husband Jack, her three children, Deborah (Andrew), Steven (Virginia) and Julie (Kevin), her four grandchildren, Eric, Ian (Jaqueline), Elise and Jack, and her great grandchild, Maya. The presence of her deep love and warm smile will be greatly missed by so many. She had a special talent for making people feel special about whom they are, what they liked to do and their most authentic self. She was full of curiosity, consideration, and love.

Sharon was raised in upstate New York, with her siblings Lorraine and Bucky, by her kind and loving parents, Leona and Roland Lovell. She loved horses and when she wasn’t riding her own, saddled by her doting father, she enjoyed watching her father participate in Polo matches. This would spark a lifelong love of horses and equestrian sports. Sharon first truly got to know Jack after carrying home his books in 1954. After that fateful day, the two would go on to be inseparable and were married in 1960. After high school, Sharon attended Elmira College where she graduated with honors and received a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree.

After marrying Jack, she moved to Buffalo and took a job at the Erie County Department of Social Services to help support Jack as he made his way through medical school. She would go on to have varied careers such as real estate agent, business owner, and racing thoroughbred owner. Her interests were perhaps even more varied than her careers. Sharon loved fashion, earning the moniker Mama Ferragamo for her penchant for fine Italian footwear. She was an avid music lover who appreciated a wide variety of music from all over the world. Sharon was always happy at a reggae show swaying side to side doing what we call the grandma skank. Sharon always had a kind heart and helped others by creating ways to share her interests and expertise. This passion led to her involvement in programs such as The Discovery Center of the Southern Tier (a Children’s Museum), Ladies’ Medical Auxiliary (Chairwoman), and the Junior League’s “Built Environment Program” (Architecture Education for Children).

Her three children were born in Buffalo and upon Jack’s graduation from medical school they moved to Binghamton where they built a medical practice and raised their three children. She was a kind and caring mother who always encouraged her children to excel and showed genuine interest in their activities and accomplishments. She would stay by Jack’s side as he would progress in his medical career creating a loving and stable environment for the family.

With their move to Baltimore, she returned to horses, breeding and racing thoroughbreds. On her 60th birthday, Jack gave her their first broodmare, pregnant with her first foal, Havana Glen, aptly named after their favorite picnic spot in upstate New York. She had many horses all well cared for and of course, their Top 25 Maryland Winner-2001, Lovesmelovesmenot, affectionately known as Lovey. At 26, he still lives on the family farms in Louisa Virginia, a testament to her care.

Upon Jack’s retirement from Maryland General Hospital, Sharon switched gears and moved to Spring Valley Farm and was fully able to realize the dreams she had as a young horse lover. They raised cattle, horses, and many, many sunflowers all while stewarding the land she loved on their farm which earned the Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation’s “Clean Water Award” (2017). She officially became a Master Gardener and supported many community organizations such as the Louisa Historical Society, The Miller Center (UVA), the Library of Virginia, LCHS Scholarship Fund, and 4-H. She loved hosting family and friends as well as making new ones.

In her later years she enjoyed nothing more than going on lunch dates with Jack and sometimes having picnics in the car. Even as her faculties started to betray her, she still approached life with great compassion, interest, and empathy. Her ability to retain these wonderful qualities was made possible by the care and friendship provided to her by her loving caregiver Julia Perry. She will forever be remembered as a kind, honest, and incredibly vibrant woman. She was always exactly who we needed her to be and excelled as a wife, mother, grandmother, and so much more. We will remember her smile and joie de vivre and her presence will be sorely missed, especially at the family gatherings she helped to make so special.

The family is grateful for the outreach from so many family members and friends. Your kind thoughts of her and for us are a great help during this time. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made “In Memory of Sharon Manzari” to the following charities:

Louisa Historic Society, PO Box 1172 Louisa, VA 23093 or online at louisahistory.org;

The John (Jack) & Sharon Manzari Endowment payable to J. Sargent Reynolds Community College (JSRCC) Foundation, PO Box 26924 Richmond, Virginia 23261or online at reynolds.edu/givenow

Virginia Museum of History & Culture, PO Box 7311 Richmond VA 23221 or online under Tribute Gifts at virginiahistory.org/support#waystosupport

A Celebration of Life for Sharon will be held on Friday, January 26th from 12 noon to 2 pm at Everleigh Vineyards, 9845 Jefferson Highway, Mineral, Virginia. Please come to share memories and celebrate her life.