Joyce Carol Sharaf

She was born October 15, 1954 to Harold and Dorothy Sharaf, formerly of Wayland, Massachusetts and graduated from Milton High School in 1972. She earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1976 and a Master’s in Business Administration from Northeastern University, Boston.

Joyce had an illustrious 40-year career as an insurance-industry expert. Her opinion was often sought and quoted in the business press. Over her career, she worked for many respected institutions including the Bank of Boston, the Bank of New York, Standard and Poor’s and AM Best. Her most cherished role, however, was as Director, Reinsurance Credit with Fairfax Insurance Group, where she spent the last 15 years of her career and developed lasting friendships. Since 2015, Joyce was also an active member of a women’s collective philanthropy group, Impact100, for which she served in many capacities.

She loved her work, her Dachshund Stella, her Florida home, and celebrating holidays and gatherings with close friends. Joyce’s most favorite topic of conversation was her beloved Stella, with insurance being a close second.

She was a principled person who was steadfast in doing the right thing. She had a generous heart and was a tremendously loyal and reliable friend.

She is survived by sisters, Judith Spinelli and Janet Collins; cousins, Alex Levy and Marsha Levine; and life-long friends Lisa Ketner (David), Kristin Ketner Pak, Irene Driscoll (Mark), Melina Driscoll, and Jackie Driscoll. She is predeceased in death by her parents Harold and Dorothy Sharaf.