Shirley Jane Charron

On January 30, 2021, Shirley Jane Charron’s soul departed this world. She was 85 years old. Shirley was a remarkably creative and compassionate person who was admired and loved by many. She had a long and successful career as an art teacher, professional artist-craftsman and painter. Shirley passed while she lived at her assisted living home in Sarasota, Florida. Shirley outlived her beloved sister, Doris Martin and both of her parents, Edwardina Martin and John Baptiste Charron. Her nephews, Bradley Martin and Zachary Martin, their wives and children reside in CT. Shirley leaves behind her loyal life-partner of forty-three years, Evamarie Weiss.

Shirley was born in Norwich, CT on April 22, 1935. Her parents were first-generation Americans of French-Canadian descent who worked in a textile mill in Willimantic, CT. Her father was a skilled carpenter. While Shirley was a young girl, she demonstrated talent for painting and credits her sister, Doris, who was 13 years her senior, for encouraging and inspiring Shirley’s confidence and creativity.

In her Senior year of High School, Shirley entered and won nine Scholastic Art awards for her paintings. Another award from the Westport Women’s Club helped her pay for her tuition at Mass. School of Art in Boston, a college for Art teachers. Shirley saved most of her HS part-time job earnings for future college room and board costs. Her jobs included summers as a strawberry and tobacco picker, as well as a Manpower temporary-typist. Scholarships were a great help. Everything she earned in high school went toward college savings. Her focus and dream was to make her living in the arts. After her first year of college, her parents were unable to provide any monetary help.

In 1958, Shirley earned her BS in Art Education. Her major strength was in three-dimensional design, though she always loved to paint. While a student, she worked as a switchboard receptionist to pay for lodging at Franklin Square House, known as “Boston’s home away from home for young women.” In her words, “it was a well-chaperoned, respectable establishment unfortunately located in a not-so-nice part of town”.

Shirley’s first teaching positions were in rural Michigan and NY State. After a brief marriage, they divorced and Shirley began her graduate studies at Columbia U. where she completed her Masters in Fine Arts and Fine Arts Education degree. She commuted daily from Haverstraw, NY to Columbia U in NYC where she attended Columbia night school - she did this while working clerical jobs on days/weekends to pay tuition and living expenses.

In 1963, Shirley earned her Masters in Fine Arts and Fine Arts Education and began her long teaching career in Norwalk, CT. She taught HS Senior art classes in enameling and pewter-smithing. Shirley still receives thank-you notes from her students who made their living in the arts. Within the 27 years she worked at Norwalk HS, Shirley also served as Art Department Chairman. Throughout her tenure, her unique and creative works were often awarded at the state and national level, as were those of her students.

After a paid sabbatical, in 1973 Shirley authored the book, “Modern Pewter” - a complete textbook on the lost art of fabricating pewter into functional and sculptural works of art. It is often referred to as “the Bible of pewter smithing” and details techniques Shirley learned from Frances Felton, her long-time mentor, teacher and internationally renowned modern pewterer. Ms. Felton, wanted to preserve the technique of the craft she learned from Mauritz Loeffler (circa 1925) while at Pratt Institute and Shirley was grateful to be able to preserve the body of knowledge for future generations. The textbook was published in England and in the US and is used as a primary reference for modern-day pewter smiths. Shirley also studied enameling with Margaret Seeler, and often combined unique enamel designs with her pewter creations and other mixed media, including mahogany. Today, the Smithsonian has several of Shirley Charron’s pewter pieces in their permanent collection.

Shirley practiced her craft full-time for ten years after taking an early retirement from teaching. The 1970’s and 1980’s were some of her most productive years. She exhibited at local, state and national levels, and sold her work at summer craft shows. She took consignments and produced one-of-a-kind mixed media sculptures, while also making affordable production pieces such as bookworms, jewelry, paperweights in addition to popular beautiful and practical dinnerware.

In 1977, Shirley met Eva Weiss, a photographer and painter. Eva’s six children also became part of Shirley’s family life, and later included grandchildren who knew and loved Shirley as a close family member.

After Shirley’s early retirement from teaching in the 1980’s, Shirley moved to Florida with Eva where she pursued her interest and passion for oil painting for over twenty years. She traveled internationally and studied with award-winning artist, Julie Hanson. Shirley was accepted in more than forty juried shows where her beautiful and unique paintings received recognition and awards.

In the Preface to her “Modern Pewter” book Shirley expressed her core belief. That we are all born with innate creativity that can be accessed throughout our lifetimes. “Creative impulses exist in all people, and are the essence of any human endeavor.”

Shirley’s passion was to empower her students to authentically create original work. Her gentle humor, kindness and insightful encouragement will be greatly missed. Her energy continues in those who were lucky enough to know and work with her.

God speed, dear Shirley.

Donations in Shirley’s name may be gifted to the Humane Society of Manatee County, Florida.