communitylife
Remembering Sharon B. McCarthy
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haron B.McCarthy, a longtime resident and business owner on Capitol Hill for 25 yrs., passed away February 26th, 2012, after a long and courageous battle with ovarian cancer. Sharon left an indelible mark in the business and arts community of Capitol Hill, as well as in the hearts of many friends and loyal customers. Not only was she a successful small business owner, she was also a gifted artist, Democratic Party activist, lifelong community volunteer and patron of the arts. She was known for her engaging personality, vivacious manner, wonderful sense of
by Linda Manzella McLain many years supervising the internship program in the California State Legislature. Her support of the Democratic ideology inspired her to a lifetime of volunteering in local and national campaigns. In 1975, Sharon married John Burton, then a U.S. Congressional Representative from San Francisco, and moved to Washington DC. She transitioned into the retail business in a quest to introduce unique art apparel and accessories to the area. (Sharon’s marriage to John Burton later ended in divorce.) She and her former partner, Linda Beeman, opened Mamori at the corner Sharon MCarthy at Moon, Blossoms and Snow on Capitol Hill
One of Sharon’s paintings.
humor and artistic style. Born in 1946 on New Year’s Eve in Elizabethtown, Pa., Sharon moved to California in 1965 where she attended Mount San Antonio College and began working in her first career of politics. As a passionate Democrat and daughter of a union man, she became deeply involved in the campaigns of Tom Bradley, the first African-American mayor of Los Angeles and the gubernatorial campaign of Jessie Unruh. She spent 64 H HillRag | April 2012
of 3rd and Pennsylvania Ave. SE. The merchandise reflected an Asian aesthetic and featured textiles and jewelry largely from California and Japan. They opened a second store in Georgetown and moved the Capitol Hill location to a larger space on Pennsylvania Ave. The partners closed Mamori in 1982 when Linda Beeman relocated out of state. Sharon married John McCarthy in 1983. The following year she launched her second store, nam-
ing it Moon, Blossoms and Snow, dents of Capitol Hill. which reflected Sharon’s love of Though petite in stature, many nature and fondness for haiku po- of her employees became dear etry. The store specialized in selling friends and lovingly referred to her contemporary American crafts ,and as “The Big Blossom.” represented hundreds of artists from Sharon served on the Boards throughout the United States. The of The Capitol Hill Association merchandise, largely apparel and of Merchants and Professionals jewelry, was handmade, “one of a (CHAMPS) and the Capitol Hill kind” or produced from small cot- Arts Workshop. tage industries with limited producAs a staunch supporter of tions within the U.S. She also car- CHAW, she participated in numerried pottery, handblown glass, and ous activities, performing in stage wood pieces, always adhering to her productions, fundraising and taking commitment to feature only American artisans. Sharon B. McCarthy Memorial Sharon was a fiber juror for the American Craft contributions can be made Council Show in Baltiin honor of Sharon to: more and was intuitive in knowing her market Capitol Hill Arts Workshop and customer. The store (www.chaw.org) attracted collectors and Central Pennsylvania Festival of The Arts customers from around (www.arts-festival.com) the world, in addition Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association to the faithful clientele (www.bellefontearts.org) working in the U.S. Bellefonte Museum of Centre County Congress, the Library (www.bellefontemuseum.org) of Congress and resi-