Kent Sharp

Sharp, Kent, age 73 of Acton (formerly of Melrose, MA and Liberty, IN), November 30, 2024. Kent was born on August 21, 1951, in Newcastle, Indiana to Wilbur L Sharp and Janice Geraldine Hensley Sharp.
Kent moved to Cambridge, MA in 1969 to attend MIT where he met his future wife, Maura Heron. He lived in Massachusetts for the rest of his life, receiving his MBA from Harvard and living in Melrose prior to moving to Acton, where he remained for 37 years. He had a storied career in the sciences & technology, working for Draper Labs, Digital Equipment Corporation, Lau Technologies/Viisage, Polaroid, Smartenergy, ITA Software, and finally Google until his retirement.
Impressive as his career was, the true story of Kent's life is one of selfless service and dedication to those he loved. He never chose a job that required his family to move, nor one that required him to regularly travel away from home. He was a constant presence in his family's life and, towards the end, particularly loved his time with his grandchildren. As the years passed and others close to him approached the ends of their lives, Kent invested countless hours, over and over, tending to them - parents, relatives, anyone in need - and handling even the most mundane aspects of their care. His love was marked by a lack of fanfare; he did this work with a quiet, matter-of-fact kindness that inspired and humbled everyone who knew him.
Kent's primary love was his family, but he also enjoyed his many passions. The son of an auto mechanic, he loved building things and working with tools, a love he passed on to his children. An accomplished cook and baker, Kent adoringly tended to his decades-old black raspberry patch, and his family will mourn the loss of his apple crumb and black raspberry pies. Through his life and particularly after his retirement, he shared with his wife Maura a love of travel and adventure. He also fiercely guarded his vintage Martin guitar, though later in life more often enjoyed swinging a golf club.
Kent was predeceased by his parents, and is survived by his wife Maura Sharp of Acton; their children: Stephanie Sharp of Doha, Qatar and husband Shakheel, Brian Sharp of San Francisco, Julie Sharp Verduzco of Acton and husband Mauricio, Kevin Sharp of Chicago; grandsons Joey and Max Verduzco and Henry Gooroochurn; and brother Craig Sharp of Summerville, SC and wife Renee.
Visiting hours will take place on Wednesday, December 18th from 4-7 PM at the Acton Funeral Home, 470 Mass Ave, Acton MA. A memorial mass will be held on Thursday, December 19 at 10:30 AM at the Holy Family Catholic Church, 12 Monument Square Concord MA.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Kent's memory to the Acton Food Pantry or Household Goods Recycling Ministry