Miriam Sharin, 89

An educator in the truest sense of the word, Miriam Sharin squeezed every ounce of learning from the schools she attended in her native Brownsville section of Brooklyn by never missing a day, taught her herself piano by ear, and was a nursery school teacher who went on to teach folk dancing.

Sharin died on Sept. 23, after enduring Alzheimer’s disease that “may have stripped away her memories, but what remained, almost to the end, were the core qualities of the person who she always was — loving, warm and wanting to make you feel good,” said her daughter, Patti Flagg. Sharin was 89.

The daughter of immigrants from the same small town in what was then western Russia; Sharin played piano at an early age, and was an avid handball player as a teenager. She competed against boys long before that was common, Flagg said.

In 1952, Sharin married Samuel Sharin, an electrical engineer. Fourteen years later, with their four children in tow, they settled in North Woodmere. “We were introduced by a mutual friend,” Sam said. “Miriam had a sweet personality, she was outgoing and gave love to everyone she met. We are all going to miss her.”

Passionate about her family and folk dancing, Sharin developed her hobby into what Flagg called a “beloved profession” after moving to the Five Towns. She shared her love for international and Israeli folk dancing, as well as line dancing, teaching classes throughout the area to people of all ages, who became devoted participants.

The teaching began with adult education classes and expanded to several schools, synagogues, community rooms and senior citizens. Some of the instruction was provided on a voluntary basis. Sharin also performed her favorite forms of dance at special events, at hotels in the upstate Catskill Mountains and on cruises.

Flagg credits her mother for developing the folk dance community that remains a vibrant part of the South Shore. Sharin as described by Flagg was a “highly skilled, patient and effervescent teacher.” Her joy for dancing was introduced to more than a 2,000 students, Sam said some were inspired to become folk dance instructors, Flagg said. “Most importantly, Miriam was very fortunate to have found something so fulfilling and enriching for herself, and for her students,” her daughter said.

After Sharin stopped teaching dance, former students would share their stories with Sam, who was known to many as “Miriam’s husband,” about the substantial impact she had on their lives. “Miriam loved her students and they loved her,” Flagg said. “And above all, Miriam loved her family and they loved her.”

In addition to Sam and Patti, Miriam is survived by her children Cliff, Jay and David, and eight grandchildren. “[They] will all carry Miriam’s love and spirit in their hearts forever,” Flagg said.