Helen E. Shair

She is survived by her cherished sons Mitchel and his wife Jodi, and Stuart Shair. She was the loving grandmother of Samantha and Sydney. Helen was the former wife of Irwin Shair. She also leaves behind her devoted brother Allan Szathmary, his wife Judy and their children Barbara and Brad. Helen was the long-time companion of the late Arthur Fox who shared her long-time love for art.

Helen attended the Jeremiah Burke High School in Dorchester and graduated from Mass College of Art. She taught art to all grades in the Canton School system where she was the art supervisor. She also taught in Needham and Cambridge, the Stephen Palmer Senior Center in Needham, and the Jewish Community Center in Newton. Because of Helen’s profound hearing lose, she learned to sign and to lip read.

Helen created and produced a five-part TV series for Needham Cable dealing with the issues of being hard of hearing. Her production won 2 awards: the 1989 National Outreach Award from the Self-Help for the Hard of Hearing Association and the James L. Jenks, Jr Award from the Boston Guild for the Hard of Hearing. She was a member of Hadassah, the Lexington Arts and Crafts Society. The Boston SHHH, and the Mass College of Art Alumni Association.

Graveside services will be held at Sharon Memorial Park on February 9th at noon. Please use the following link watch the live streaming of the service https://tinyurl.com/Services-for-Helen-E-Shair

Due to COVID, memorial week will be private.

Contributions in her memory can be made to Hebrew Senior Life, 1200 Centre Street, Roslindale, MA 02131, Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA 02459, or to the charity of your choice.