Sharon Arlene Medak

Sharon Arlene Medak, born on January 22, 1947, at Lakewood General Hospital in Tacoma, Washington, passed away peacefully on September 21, 2024, surrounded by her loving family and close friends after a courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer.

Sharon is survived by her devoted husband, James Coatsworth; her beloved daughters, Danika Medak-Saltzman and Alyx Medak-Saltzman; stepdaughters, Monique Quiles, Jessica Borger, and Rebecca Coatsworth; and her cherished grandchildren, Amelia, Beatrice, and Madison. Sharon was the eldest of seven children and is also survived by her brothers, Michael Matthew Medak and Richard Deorle. Her father Matthew Medak was a Navy Veteran whose family immigrated to the US from the former Yugoslavia, and her mother Doris Thomas was born in North Dakota as a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians with French Canadian and Red River roots.

Sharon’s early life was marked by creativity and community. She was an incredibly gifted self-taught artist, who discovered her love of theater at Green River Community College in Evergreen, Washington. There she participated in the Heavier Than Air Theatre Company, where she played Lucy in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” a memory she cherished. After transferring to the University of Washington, she earned a degree in child psychology, graduating magna cum laude. Sharon was a vivacious, quick-witted and true free spirit, she challenged societal norms and served as the Chair of the Feminist Student Organization at UW.

In 1981, Sharon relocated to Connecticut with her first husband, Elliot Saltzman, and dedicated over 20 years to serving homeless veterans at the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Sharon retired from the Department of Veteran’s Affairs in 2011.  Sharon also found joy in nurturing her children and their friends through an after-school program she ran from her home, a role she held dear.

Sharon met her now husband, James Coatsworth in 2005 and they married in 2015, creating a beautifully blended family. Together, they traveled extensively, sharing countless holidays and cherished moments, especially at the Trapp Family Lodge in Vermont.

In her final days, Sharon felt profoundly alive surrounded by the love of those she had touched. She had the joy of witnessing her eldest daughter Danika’s vows to Tony Tiongson at her bedside, surrounded by family. Sharon was a devoted mother, grandmother, wife, and friend, leaving an indelible mark on everyone she met. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Friends may visit with Sharon’s family on Wednesday, September 25^th from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden, and may attend her graveside ceremony on Saturday, September 28^th at 1:00 p.m. at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, 3801 Whitney Ave., Hamden.

In honor of Sharon, if you would like to contribute, please make a donation to the American Indian College Fund at www.collegefund.org. If you plan on attending the wake on Wednesday, the family asks that you please wear purple if possible, and if you have a photo or something that reminds you of Sharon, bring it with you to add to a memory scrapbook. To send condolences, please see her obituary at www.beecherandbennett.com.