Sharon B. Greenwood Obituary (1945 - 2020)

Sharon Beth Greenwood, a lifelong resident of Kansas City, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her children on January 30th, 2020. A beloved mother, grandmother “Mimi,” and friend, Sharon was born on September 14th, 1945. She graduated from Southwest High School in 1963 and received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in 1967. Growing up as the eldest of four, she left Kansas City for undergrad, and then off to Washington, D.C, where she began a career in politics, including working for presidential candidate Hubert Humphrey. From there, she moved briefly to Los Angeles to pursue her passion in urban planning, before uniting with Jim Greenwood, a fellow Kansas Citian, who drew her back home, where they deepened their roots and raised their family. Sharon was known near and far for her warmth, grace, and zest for life and family. She loved to travel, volunteer, and was an avid gardener. She led with compassion in her volunteer work at Rose Brooks, Powell Gardens, and the Jewish Community Foundation, and carried her love for style and class with her in all her endeavors, including as a co-owner of Complements on the Plaza and then her work at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Her compassion and passion were boundless and will leave an emptiness in her community of friends and family who span geographies and generations. . Sharon was preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Jim Greenwood, her parents, Sidney and Rosalind Ginsburg. She is survived by her children, Paul and Sara Greenwood, Allison and Oliver Bajracharya, and Karen Greenwood; her four grandchildren, Dustin, Gavin, Miri, and Leo; her sister and brother-in law Ellen and Larry Polsky, sister Janey Goodman, brother and sister-in law Byron and Gerri Ginsburg, and Aunt Flossie Pack. She is lovingly remembered by her sister-in-law and brother-in-law Kathy and Marvin Schenk, her many nieces and nephews as well as her large circle of extended family and friends. The funeral will be held at 10:30 am, Sunday, February 2nd, at The Louis Memorial Chapel, 6830 Troost Avenue, with burial at Rose Hill Cemetery to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, Powell Gardens, or Children’s Mercy Hospital.