Tom Sharkey

Longtime Aspen resident Sharkey dies at 75
 Michael McLaughlin
The Aspen Times 7/27/2013

Thomas Sharkey was a man who wore many hats in Aspen.
Whether it was as an interior designer,skier, hiker, minister or
friend to almost anyone who met him, one always could
count on a smile and kind word from thelongtime Aspen resident.
Sharkey, who was 75, died Thursday morning (July 24, 2013) at his
home after a decade long battle with interstitial lung disease. His
son, Gary, daughter, K.T., and family friend Ruben Bonomi were at
his side. “As a child, you learn so much from
your father,” Gary Sharkey said. “He was
always teaching us about life, and even in
his death, he continued to teach by showing such grace and peace.
He was quite amazing.” K.T. Sharkey agreed with her brother
and said her father could always make the best of any situation.
“He passed away smiling,” she said. “My father made it a beautiful
experience.” Thomas Sharkey came to Aspen from
Texas in the early 1960s and was an avid outdoorsman.
This year marked the 50th anniversary of when he moved to Aspen.
He loved to ski, snowshoe and hike but not nearly as
much as he enjoyed the people and personalities of
Aspen.  “My dad couldn’t go 10 steps in Aspen without someone stopping
him to say hello,” K.T. Sharkey said. “This was his community, and
he loved it.” He immersed himself into the Aspen
culture and became a fixture with the Aspen Art Museum, the Music
Associates of Aspen and the Aspen Historical Society.
He was also a ski ambassador who could always be found smiling and
helping on the slopes, even while wearing an oxygen
tank on his back.
“Tom was so energetic,” said longtime
friend Terry Butler, of Aspen. “He was everywhere, always
having fun. Tom loved to know about people and life. He
was a beautiful soul and never had one bad thing to say
about anybody. He was kind through and through. He really
loved Aspen and its people.”
How much did Sharkey love Aspen? The man had his
phone number changed so the last four digits read 7908,
the elevation of Aspen.
“Tom lived his life out loud,” Butler said. “He didn’t let
his sickness slow him down. He often seemed to laugh his
worries away.”
Sharkey was also a minister who married many couples
in Aspen and spoke at many funerals. He was at ease comforting
other people.
Carol Fuller moved to Aspen in 1973 but became friends
with Sharkey in the late 1960s when she was visiting here.
Fuller considered Sharkey her closest friend for the past
40 years.
She talked of how he would call her daily, often more
than once, just to wish her a great day and tell her he
hoped the sky was as blue over her house as it was over
his.
“Tom walked through life without ego,” Fuller said. “He
really took pride in being local. He was the heart and soul
of happiness, and he brought it out in everyone around
him.”
When he was volunteering with the various Aspen
groups he was involved with, he was always the first to
help, the first to make sure visitors were being taken care
of and the last to leave until the work was done.
Sharkey had a special connection with the Aspen Historical
Society and helped in many capacities over the
years. He was involved with it for more than 20 years and
was the secretary for the board of trustees.
Georgia Hanson has been the president and CEO of the
Historical Society for the past decade and says Sharkey’s
enthusiasm and willingness to help in any capacity will be
irreplaceable.
“Tom was my No. 1 champion,” Hanson said. “His devotion
to our society defies description. He seemed to know
everyone in town and made everyone around him smile.”
Hanson talked of how Sharkey insisted on helping at
the recent 30th-anniversary block party for the Historical
Society despite being in a wheelchair. Just Monday, Sharkey
asked if the board of trustees would mind having its
executive meeting at his house, which it did.
“He was thrilled to be part of that meeting,” Hanson
said. “I had no idea it would mean so much to him. Tom
just loved to be with friends and be festive. He will be
missed.”
The family does not plan on having a public funeral but
will have a public celebration in Aspen in the near future.