Sharon Anne Lake Dietzel

WEST CORNWALL ­— Sharon Anne Lake Dietzel died of ovarian cancer at her home on Dec. 1, 2010, surrounded by her husband, children, brother and her beloved pets.

A devoted teacher and administrator, Sharon also leaves behind the many students that she mentored and inspired throughout her career in education, initially at the Vail Deane School in Elizabeth, N.J., then from 1975 to1982, at the Columbus School for Girls in Columbus, Ohio, where she served as teacher, and eventually as assistant headmaster.  

While working toward her master’s degree in education at Columbia University, which she received in 1989, Sharon simultaneously taught mathematics at The Brearley School in Manhattan from 1987 to 1989.

But it was Sharon’s work at the Greenwich Academy (GA) that represented the apex of her career as an educator.  Singularly devoted to all-girls education, Sharon loved every aspect of her life at GA, stating: “What I thrive on is the voice of intelligent women, no matter their age ... Women have voices here and I wanted to be one of them.â€�   From 1989 until her “first retirementâ€� in 1996, Sharon served as head of middle school and then as head of the upper school. Failing at her first retirement attempt, Sharon returned to the position until 2006.

Upon relocating with her husband, Al, to the Northwest Corner, Sharon shared with the local community the passion and inspiration that she had previously poured into her school communities, participating in the Hawthorne Club, the Cornwall Historical Society and Chronicle and the Cornwall Library, and devoting much time and energy to her congregation of the Chapel of All Saints.  She also found joy in knitting and water aerobics classes.

Sharon is survived by her husband, Al Dietzl; her brother, Daniel; her children, Jill and Scott; her stepchildren, Cathy and Debbie; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

A celebration of her life will be held at the Chapel of All Saints at the North Cornwall Meeting House on Town Street at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11.   

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association, Salisbury, CT 06068.

The Kenny Funeral Home in Sharon has charge of the arrangements.

Latest News

Water main cleaning in North Canaan

NORTH CANAAN – Aquarion Water Company today announced a water main cleaning project in the company’s North Canaan system. The project is scheduled to take place from Monday, April 1 through Tuesday, April 16, and is being undertaken to ensure customers in North Canaan continue to receive the highest quality water.

The cleaning for April 1 and April 4 (subject to change) will take place on the following streets:

Keep ReadingShow less
Tuning up two passions under one roof

The Webb Family in the workshop. From left: Phyllis, Dale, Ben and Josh Webb, and project manager Hannah Schiffer.

Natalia Zukerman

Magic Fluke Ukulele Shop and True Wheels Bicycle Shop are not only under the same roof in a beautiful solar powered building on Route 7 in Sheffield, but they are also both run by the Webb family, telling a tale of familial passion, innovation and a steadfast commitment to sustainability.

In the late ‘90s, Dale Webb was working in engineering and product design at a corporate job. “I took up instrument manufacturing as a fun challenge,” said Dale. After an exhibit at The National Association of Music Merchants in Anaheim, California, in 1999, The Magic Fluke company was born. “We were casting finger boards and gluing these things together in our basement in New Hartford and it just took off,” Dale explained. “It was really a wild ride, it kind of had a life of its own.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Robert Cray’s soulful blues coming to Infinity Hall

Robert Cray

Photo provided

Blues legend Robert Cray will be bringing his stinging, funky guitar and soulful singing to Infinity Hall Norfolk on Friday, March 29.

A five-time Grammy winner, Cray has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and earned The Americana Music Awards Lifetime Achievement for Performance. He has played with blues and rock icons including Albert Collins, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton and many more.

Keep ReadingShow less