One year later, community remembers Sharon Schuman

Presenter: On the one-year anniversary of Sharon Schuman’s death, community members gathered at the Amazon Parkway site to remember all that she meant to them and to the community. She was killed by a drunk driver whose blood alcohol level was so high, Sharon’s daughter says those close to him must have known of his condition. On April 23, Rebecca Schuman said if you see someone suffering from addiction, speak up. 

Rebecca Schuman: This man was able to do this because his work enabled him, his family enabled him. Everybody he knew could see that he was deteriorating. And you know, people say that he hid it well, and it’s true. People in active addiction do hide it well, but they don’t hide it that well. Something was definitely wrong. So if you see something wrong with somebody you know, you owe it to my mother to stop it in any way possible. 

Presenter: We spoke with those holding signs and asked what brought them to the crash site on Amazon Parkway. 

Sign-holder at memorial: (We are) as the others are, also here to honor Sharon. I think it’s important that the community be aware both of the risk that unsafe driving presents, and then also to honor a life well lived.

I think everyone has become more aware over the last year just of all the groups she was involved with, the important impact on the education, music, the arts, just day-to-day interactions with everyone in their community, neighbors out here, folks that have just learned of the event of last year.

So gathering today, I think is important for the community to make that statement and, again, honor the contributions she made to our community and a life well lived. 

Sign-holder at memorial: The drunk drivers—it’s so bad, and hopefully that can be stopped. And also the speeders. That drives me nuts. They pass me all the time. 

So I am here to memorialize Sharon, who’s the strongest person I’ve ever met, so motivated to get to her goals. She would make you do it to get there—in music, in her public life, helping others who were unfortunate. She was amazing.

Presenter: The community remembers Sharon Schuman on the one-year anniversary of her death while jogging near Amazon Creek.