Sharon Zotti

Sharon (Gangursky) Zotti, 70, of King of Prussia, PA passed away peacefully on Friday, January 29 surrounded by her loving family. Born in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of the late Morris “Gangy” and Sylvia (Cohen) Gangursky. Sharon grew up in Northeast Philadelphia and attended Temple University where she earned her Bachelor of Art in Chemistry and met her husband, Lou, on a college ski trip. After graduation, she began work at Fox Chase Cancer Center during which time she got engaged. She then started a position with an environmental firm doing chemical analysis of the environment in association with preparations to build the Limerick Nuclear Power Plant. While working at the environmental firm, she was married.  On January 5, 1974, while the Mummers were marching down Broad Street (a few days late because of a snowstorm), she and Lou walked down the aisle a few blocks away at the Benjamin Franklin Hotel in Center City. 

She continued work with the environmental firm when she and Lou learned they were expecting their first child, Michael. Surprising everyone by making an early appearance, Michael was born in May of 1977.  Sharon stopped work to begin her journey into motherhood. Now balancing her time as a mom, Sharon continued her quest to learn on her way to completing a Master’s degree of Chemistry from Villanova University. In April of 1980, her daughter, Gina was born. Her career focus shifted again, and she began taking classes to earn her teaching certificate from Cabrini College. In 1984, she started her career in education, teaching chemistry at Archbishop Carroll in Radnor, PA.  Then, she was offered a unique opportunity to teach a winter session of AP Chemistry at Spring-Ford Area High School. This led to a full-time position for the next 16years as the AP Chem teacher at Spring-Ford. She loved teaching. She was able to share her joy of chemistry with students, impact their lives, and have fun doing it – such as celebrating “Mole Day” with them every October. While teaching and raising her children, she further continued her education, taking classes at Cabrini College. She earned her Master’s degree of Education in 1998.  However, in 1996, she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. This led her to a hesitant retirement from teaching in 1999 due to the severity of her disability. With the children out of the house at college and starting their own lives, she and Lou found companionship with their Shelties. As the disease progressed, she became bedridden and hobbies of reading, needlepoint, cross-stitch, watching movies, and shopping took on new meaning. To escape the cold winters and help diminish the chronic pain she endured, she and Lou would take a luxurious trip to the Caribbean each year.

She took enormous pride in her children continuing the family's love of learning, earning their college degrees, and excelling in their careers. She loved watching her son Michael earn multiple degrees, including a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Delaware, and excel in his career as a chemical engineer for DuPont. She was proud of her daughter Gina earning her undergraduate degree from Hofstra University, her career in journalism and writing, and her executive position with World Congress.  She found great joy when Gina met her husband Patrick Glendening, they married, and her three grandchildren, Caroline, Annabel, and Spencer were born. She absolutely adored her grandchildren, showering them with gifts and love. Hearing about them and talking to them made her so happy and proud.

Sharon is survived by her husband Louis A. Zotti of King of Prussia, PA; son Michael Zotti of Newark, DE; daughter Gina and husband Patrick Glendening of Stoneham, MA; grandchildren Caroline, 9, Annabel, 6, and Spencer, 3, Glendening of Stoneham, MA.   She is also survived by sister-in-law Lorraine and husband Dominic Manderachi of West Norriton, PA; nephew DJ and wife Kristen Manderachi of Springfield, PA; aunt Ruth and husband Jerry Newman of New York, NY; as well as several cousins. There will be a private memorial service and interment on Thursday, February 4. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the National Fibromyalgia Association, the ASPCA, or the 529 College Savings Plans for her grandchildren: Caroline via https://go.fidelity.com/d9sv2 ; Annabel via  https://go.fidelity.com/7rybq ; and Spencer via https://go.fidelity.com/34tel

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Sharon Zotti, please visit our Tree Store.