Marcia Caryl (Sonnenfeld) Scharfman

Marcia Sonnenfeld ScharfmanMarcia Caryl Sonnenfeld Scharfman, 94, died on Friday, July 16, 2021 at Loudonville Assisted Living in Loudonville, NY. She was married to William Scharfman, MD, a physician and professor of medicine at Albany Medical Center, who died in1998. They are survived by three daughters: Lynne Scharfman Brill and her husband Jonathan Brill, Wendy Scharfman and her partner Tom Blatner, and Susan Scharfman and her husband Geoffrey Pagen; two grandsons, Eli Brill and his wife Justyn Bellsey Brill, Jaime Pagen; and one great granddaughter, Ella Brill.

The only child of Celia and Theodore Sonnenfeld, Marcia was born on January 26,1927 in Slingerlands, NY. Raised on a farm, she often helped her parents care for their animals as well as tend the beloved garden of her father Ted. Her love of the natural world continued throughout her life.

Marcia went to St. Agnes School for Girls and graduated from Smith College in 1948. She was a member of the a cappella group "The Smithereens", as singing was her passion. She could often be heard breaking into song at a moment's notice and music later became an integral part of her own family. Her daughters have all carried on this legacy.

Marcia's family settled in Albany, NY. Some fond memories of Marcia and the family include ice skating at Rafts Pond and RPI, swimming at the Colonie Country Club, ice cream cones at Ross's, riding the bumper cars at Hoffman's Playground and tiptoeing through the tulips in Washington Park. She loved fun outings with “her girls”.

Marcia chose to work in addition to having her family, and her professional life was stimulating and expansive. She managed to balance them both, at a time when many women did not work outside the home. She began her career as a teacher at the Beth Emeth Temple nursery school. Subsequently, she was hired to work as a constituent liaison for Daniel Button, a U.S. Congressman, who had been her neighbor and friend. She then ran the office for New York State Senator Noman Levy for 30 years until her retirement. She found gratification in serving local residents, working with staff and collaborating on drafting legislation. During her retirement, Marcia volunteered as a reading assistant in the South End of Albany.

She always enjoyed visiting and traveling with her daughters and for years treated the family to many wonderful Thanksgiving vacations in the Caribbean Islands, which will forever remain cherished memories in her family's hearts. Throughout her life people were drawn to Marcia for her magnetic presence, warm heart and fun-loving lust for life.

Services will be held at 11:00am on Sunday, July 25. 2021 at the Mendleson Chapel, located on the property of the Beth Emeth Cemetery, 57 Turner Lane Loudonville, NY. All are welcome to attend. Those wishing to remember Marcia in a special way may make a memorial contribution to Community Hospice of Albany, 445 New Karner Road, Albany, New York 1220. T

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