Sharon Gaylin Blodinger

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Sharon was born on May 20, 1942 and was preceded in life by her father Thomas Gaylin and her mother Marie Eifert Gaylin.

Sharon was a 1960 graduate of Saint Ann Business School in Baltimore and later became a paralegal and real estate title agent supporting and working closely with her husband, Robert, an attorney, in their downtown Charlottesville private law practice, for over 50 years. Sharon shared her husband’s love of flying and became a licensed pilot in 1986. She was a long time active member of The Ninety-Nines, Inc., International Organization of Women Pilots and served as Virginia Chapter Chairman since 2010. She also served at various times as Governor, Vice Governor, and Non Profit Coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic Section. Sharon always cherished the many close friendships she made through the Ninety-Nines. Sharon was a certified advanced level scuba diver and loved to travel especially to the Turks and Caicos Islands where she and Robert regularly vacationed and went diving for many years. Sharon loved to read, knit, cook holiday dinners, and spend time with her children and grandchildren.

She was an ardent dog lover and frequently shared stories and memories over the years of the ones who passed before, including Sam and Mandy (the bassets), Chipper, Bilbo, Grendel, and, of course, all the jacks - Hemingway, Hadley, Bumby, Gatsby, Nicole, Isabel, Coco, Jake, Carlos, Zelda, Pablo, Puzzle, Daisy and Fitz. (she would not want us to miss mentioning any of them). She also loved and followed the horses from Secretariat, in the running of the 1973 Preakness in Baltimore, where Robert proposed to her, through her most recent favorites, including California Chrome and Zenyatta.

Sharon leaves behind to cherish her memory, her husband, Robert, her children John Baxter and his wife Robin, Nancy Blodinger and her partner John, and Harvey Blodinger, her sister Linda Gaylin Raines and her husband Tom, her brother Michael Gaylin and his wife Diane, her granddaughters Megan Baxter and Elena Blodinger, and her nephews Chris, Jeff, Michael and Andrew.

The family will receive friends from 3 pm to 5 pm on Friday, March 3, 2023 at Teague Funeral Service, 2260 Ivy Road Charlottesville, VA 22903. There will not be a formal funeral service. The family requests that masks be worn during the visitation.

Sharon’s family kindly requests that you consider making a donation in her memory to the Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA (caspca.org/give/in-honor- ofmemorial-gifts/) in lieu of flowers.