Obituary of Sharon L. Rasmussen

Rasmussen, Sharon L. (Johnson) Mendon: Sunday, November 9, 2008 at age 58 passed away unexpectedly with her family at her side following complications from an ongoing and courageous battle with breast cancer. She is survived by her husband of 35 years Richard (Dick) Rasmussen; her three loving children Bill, Jennifer, and Jessica Rasmussen; her brother Dennis (Ina) Johnson; and her sister Deborah (Mark) Bergmann (Johnson). For over 35 years, Sharon, an Associate Professor in the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology, provided physics tutoring and other academic support services to deaf and hard of hearing students studying in the RIT College of Science. In 2004 she became Chairperson of what was then named the NTID Department of Science and Engineering Support. When that department merged with the NTID Department of Science in 2007, she became the Department Coordinator for Support Services. Sharon was an active community volunteer serving as a unit leader with the Girl Scouts of the Genesee Valley and as a unit and district leader with the Otetiana Council of the Boy Scouts of America. She was also active in organizing and supporting the Cougar Claws girls club volleyball program. She enjoyed ballroom dancing with her husband, Dick, at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio. Friends may call Thursday, November 13, from 6-9 PM and Friday, November 14, from 2-5 PM and 6-9 PM at the Merton H. Kays Funeral Home, Inc. 59 Monroe Street, Honeoye Falls. A memorial service for family, colleagues, and friends will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Sharon may be directed to the Pluta Cancer Center, 125 Red Creek Drive, Rochester, NY 14623, or to the NTID at RIT in support of programs to encourage women in math, science, and engineering.