Dr. Jared Sharon

Funeral Site: Los Osos Valley Memorial Park.

2260 Los Osos Valley Road.

Los Osos CA 90402.

Dr. Jared Bear Sharon, 85, of Arroyo Grande, CA, passed away on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

Jared was born in Buffalo, New York in the spring of 1940. He was preceded in death by his father, Joel Sharon, an attorney with the United States Department of Immigration and Naturalization Services and his mother, Sonia, who earned her Master's Degree in English Literature at Columbia University before becoming an English teacher.

Due to his father's profession he moved frequently throughout his childhood to cities including Buffalo, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and Richmond, Virginia. An only child, Jared was blessed with devoted and loving aunts and uncles who had an immense impact during his formative years. He excelled as a student, developing a lifelong love of learning. He particularly enjoyed Torah study throughout his life, following the example set by his father and grandfather.

Graduating high school at the age of 16, Jared went to the University of Richmond, Virginia, before attending USC, where he earned a Master's Degree in Biochemistry and a PhD in Higher Education. While at USC, Jared married the love of his life, Maureen Leslie Barr.

Jared and Maureen lived in Monterey Park, California before moving to Marin County, where he was the Dean of Instruction at the College of Marin. Two of his major accomplishments were developing College for Kids and Emeritus College, which went on to become statewide programs across California Community Colleges. In 1986, he moved to Menlo Park, where he became Vice President at College of San Mateo.

He retired in 1999 and moved to Arroyo Grande where he became a Para-rabbinic Fellow at Congregation Beth David and Chaplain serving California Men's Colony and Corcoran State Prison. While at Corcorran, he wrote a book to help rehabilitate inmates entitled "Basic Judaism for those seeking a New Beginning".

Jared became involved with Kiwanis in his early professional years, starting in Marin County and continuing in the Five Cities. He was a past President of the Ross Valley and Gold Coast clubs and a member of Arroyo Grande Valley Kiwanis Club until his passing. He was dedicated throughout his life to community service and had a saying, "Ask yourself what you can do to make the world a better place."

Jared is succeeded by his beloved wife Maureen, his three sons, Jon, Dan, and Joshua, and seven grandchildren.

For those wanting to make a donation in his honor, Congregation Beth David of San Luis Obispo or Arroyo Grande Valley Kiwanis would be his choices.

Burial service will be on Friday, January 9th, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at the Los Osos Valley Memorial Park with a reception following at Congregation Beth David.