Former JCC volunteer Sharon Upbin inspired strength through her deeds

Though Cedarhurst resident Sharon Upbin passed away in March, her passion and dedication for helping others at the JCC of the Greater Five Towns will forever inspire those she came in contact with.

Upbin grew up in Brooklyn, moved to Cedarhurst when she was 11 and graduated from Lawrence High School in 1972. She went on to study elementary education at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut before ultimately becoming a medical assistant at Clifford Blumberg’s dental office on Central Avenue in Cedarhurst.

Upbin began volunteering at the JCC of the Greater Five Towns in 2000 at the organization’s Come Alive Social Day Care program for the frail, elderly and those suffering with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Mary Sheffield, the program coordinator for Come Alive said Upbin helped set-up for the program, serve lunch and greet the clients. “She was very kind and dedicated,” Sheffield said.

According to Sheffield, Upbin came to the JCC of the Greater Five Towns after she suffered a brain tumor that left her visually impaired. “She decided to reach out to people who were less fortunate,” Sheffield said. “She was an inspiration because she had her own health issues but wanted to help others in our program. She treated each client with kindness and respect; she was an asset to our program.”

In 2008, Upbin received the JCC Volunteer Award for her work and dedication. Three years later, Upbin received the UJA-Federation of New York’s Volunteer Recognition Award.

Lisa Barnette, a clinical social worker at the JCC of the Greater Five Towns, said Upbin is greatly missed at the JCC. “She was a very spirited, energetic and kind person,” Barnette said. “She became a source of strength for many of our clients with traumatic brain injuries and used herself in a positive way.”

Aside from helping others, Upbin’s husband Rich said she also devoted her time and money to feeding stray cats in the area. “She loved to help the strays and always made sure they ate,” he said. Upbin also loved the New York Yankees, according to Rich. “She was a number one Yankee fan,” he said. “She was even laid to rest with a Yankees T-shirt on.”

Funeral services were held graveside in March at King Solomon Cemetery in Clifton, New Jersey. Upbin is survived by her husband, Rich, brother, Steven Tavlin and her two cats, Chuckie and Joey.