Sharon M. Gripper

Sharon M. Gripper Sharon was born on December 1, 1944, in Annapolis, Maryland, as the first child of Gwendolyn Jeanette and George Ronald Gray. At the age of 5, the family moved to Flushing, Queens, N.Y., and shortly thereafter relocated to downtown Manhattan, where Sharon attended public school for her early education. Throughout her childhood, she enjoyed many adventurous summers with her sisters at their grandparents' farm in Maryland. At age 12, the family settled in Springfield Gardens, Queens, where Sharon attended and graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in 1962. During her time in Springfield Gardens, she was a member of the Springfield Gardens United Methodist Church, where she publicly affirmed her faith in Christ. She was the third oldest child among her siblings, having three sisters and a brother Norma Cully (deceased). After high school, Sharon worked for several companies and eventually was employed by the AT&T Telephone Company. At the age of 18, she met her husband to be, Eddie Gripper. It was love at first sight and forever stayed that way. They were married in 1968 after waiting 4 years for Eddie to return from the war in Vietnam and leaving the Air Force. During the early years of their marriage, they bought a new condo in Concourse Village, in the Bronx, NY, and lived there for four years before moving to a house in Lakeview (West Hempstead), Long Island. In 1971, their first child, Monique Simone, was born, followed by the birth of their son, Eddie Jr., three years later. Sharon chose to stay at home, dedicating herself to providing their children with all the love, guidance, and care she could. Sharon was deeply involved in her children's lives- from starting a Girl Scout troop to playing a key role in advocating for changes at their school. As time passed, she began driving Eddie Jr. to grade school in the neighboring village of Malverne. Her curiosity and interest in his education led her to befriend several teachers, who welcomed her into their classrooms. The principal and staff were so impressed with her dedication that she was hired as a teacher’s aide. Additionally, Sharon co-chaired an advocacy group aimed at having the school district provide bus service from Lakeview to Malverne, a move that greatly benefited many parents in the neighborhood. After a year of navigating bureaucratic red tape, their efforts paid off - they won!!! From there Sharon developed an interest in local politics and made valuable connections, which eventually led to her being hired as a Nassau County Legislative Assistant for Roger Corbin. She later advanced to become his Chief of Staff. She held that job for 10 years and then went to work in the office of Legislator Kevan Abrahams. During this time, Sharon excelled in the arena she loved the most, helping adults and children in the communities throughout Nassau County. In addition to servicing the myriad of calls from constituents for a large range of inquiries, she was also in charge of organizing and securing funds for many community programs like: Halloween trunk-or-treat celebrations, Thanksgiving turkey drives, toy drives for children at Christmas, back to school bookbags drives, National Night Out, job fairs for those seeking employment, and a host of other events. Sharon found immense joy in being a grandmother. Her grandchildren, Dillon and Justin, were the light of her life, and she cherished every moment spent with them. Whether it was attending their school events, sharing stories, or simply enjoying their company, Sharon’s love for them was boundless. She took great pride in their accomplishments and delighted in watching them grow. Sharon loved to travel, and over the years, she visited a remarkable array of destinations, including Thailand, Dubai, Mexico, Spain, Morocco, Alaska, and Canada, among many others. Her adventurous spirit led her to explore new places and immerse herself in the cultures of the world to see how the rest of the world existed. Sharon was truly an “Angel” that God placed on this earth for us to share. She was loved by all. She visited the sick, was always willing to lend a helping hand, gave advice to those who needed it, avoided materialism and braggadocios characteristics, brought joy to those who knew her well. A little more than 50 days before her death, she hosted a “Meet and Greet” gathering at her house and walked the streets of Lakeview to promote the election of Siela Bynoe to the position of New York State legislator. She leaves behind to morn and cherish her memory: her beloved husband, Eddie; her children, Monique Mims and Eddie Jr.; her grandchildren, Dillon and Justin Mims; her sisters, Rosalind Collazo, Linda Gray, and Rhonda Pitts; her Goddaughter, Maya Pitts; her son-in-law, Cory Mims; nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

Sharon M. Gripper

December 1, 1944 - July 27, 2024