Tribute Page for Sharon Balkcom

Sharon Balkcom

Sharon Balkcom, raised on the scrappy streets of East Harlem, was in the third grade when her teachers realized that she had a gift for mathematics, said her mother, Rosalie, who was not surprised.

Ms. Balkcom, 43, the second of three children, attended some of the city’s most rigorous and selective secondary schools: Robert F. Wagner Middle School on the Upper West Side and the Bronx High School of Science. She received an M.B.A. from Pace University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Colgate University.

Ms. Balkcom’s academic aptitude and varied education prepared her to tackle most jobs. She was a computer systems manager at Marsh & McLennan, where she had worked for about three years, her mother said. "She was motivated," said her brother Gordon, a publicist. "Whereas I might need someone to kick-start me, she was self-motivated."

As a child, that motivation helped Ms. Balkcom, a resident of White Plains, overcome teasing from neighborhood children about being a bookworm. "She held her head up and continued to do what was right," Mrs. Balkcom said. "My husband and I brought our children up the best we could. We tried to instill in them the importance of having an education. We taught them that things were not handed to them. If they wanted something, they had to work hard to get it."

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I have never met Sharon but she and I talked constantly via phone about the ITS project. She was always very pleasant and a joy to speak with. I shall never forget! Theresa

Theresa Shackleford, 9/11/2009 8:39:21 AM

I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Sharon many times via phone as we worked through ITS issues. ITS was a new responsibility for me and I needed a lot of help. Sharon was very patient, responding to my calls and always willing to help. Though we never got to meet in person, my life at Marsh is all the better having interacted with her. She will always be missed!

Theresa Shackleford, 9/10/2008 10:03:10 AM

I had the pleasure of working with Sharon at MMC from 1998 - 1999 as a consultant. She was a very caring, intelligent, and personable person, with a great sense of humor.

Thanks Sharon for your pep talks to get us through some of those tough times, for the cab rides home late at night, for the great food we used to order from the Thai place when we worked those long hours, and most of all for being my manager and my friend, a difficult and rare feat to do.

Felix

Felix Nazario, 9/14/2007 3:18:36 PM

I grew up with Sharon and her family in the Washington projects in East Harlem. We attended some of the same schools and grew up in the same church. Sharon was a wonderful, sweet and caring person who had a wonderful sense of humor. Whenever I was around her, I learned something new. She was very supportive in my fundraising efforts with the dance program at the church and was always there with a word of encouragement. She is greatly missed.

Mary A. Jenkins, 12/23/2003 11:59:56 AM

As I recall the days in AIG Data Centre in New Jersey back in 1995/96 where I met Sharon Balkcom first time. I had no idea until Howard Brown, an old friend of mine working together in AIG data centre send me an e-mail with the message of unfortunate end of Sharon. I always found her nice, gentle and helpful. I always noticed smile on her face. Again when AIG Q/A team moved to down-town Manhattan we worked in the same floor. When my project ended in late 1997 I moved to a different organization and still I maintained my contact with Sharon. Since I moved to CANADA in 1998 our contact disrupted. I feel for Sharon and all other,s who ended their tragic life. My prayer goes to Sharon's family and all other who lost their near and dears.

Khairul Alam, February5, 2003

Khairul Alam, 2/5/2003 12:44:56 PM

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