Sharon Jolie Sanborn

Sharon had the gift of music, was an accomplished pianist, and consummate teacher. Beginning at a young age she began piano lessons. She attended Santa Barbara City College, Grossmont College and the University of California San Diego. Ron Morebello was her music professor. Sharon obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Music from UCSB in 1979. Professor Peter Yazbeck was her music instructor. Sharon’s graduate recital was at the Music Academy of the West. Peter continued as her instructor until his passing in 2012. Sharon performed frequently.

Sharon was a member of the Santa Barbara Branch of the Music Teachers Association of California, American College of Musicians/National Guild of Piano Teachers, Santa Barbara Music Club as well as other organizations. She was President of the local branch of MTAC, and held many other board positions throughout her 46-year career. She, along with other SBMTAC members, organized and ran numerous musical showcases, festivals, and honor recitals. Sharon was a sought after adjudicator of music competitions throughout southern California.

The Piano Studio of Sharon Sanborn produced many successful pianists who performed in showcase events, at the MTAC annual convention and performed with junior orchestras and ensembles. Several of her students went on to obtain their degrees in music and composition. Sharon was blessed with imparting and appreciating music to hundreds of children and adults.

Sharon was born and reared in Santa Barbara. She attended Peabody Elementary School, La Colina Junior High and graduated in 1968 from San Marcos High School. Although Sharon and the love of her life, Mac, casually knew each other since junior high, during their junior year at San Marcos they fell in love. High School Sweethearts! 59 years! They married in 1970.

Two wonderful boys, Joshua and Gregory, made a family. Sharon’s and Mac’s extended families lived in Santa Barbara. Frequent family get togethers centered around delicious food and camaraderie. Sharon’s numerous girlfriends keep her busy socializing.

Sharon loved to travel. Canadian Rockies, Banff and Lake Louise, Italy, Santorini, Yosemite, Mammoth Lakes, Monterey and Morro Bay are favorites. She loved fine food and Mac’s companionship.

Sharon is survived by her husband, Mac, their sons, Joshua (fiancé Jessica) and Gregory, Sharon’s brother Jerrell W. Scott (Peggy), her niece, Elayne Blessing (Greg) and her nephew, David Scott (Kara), and all of their children. Sharon’s mother, Lois, her father, Samuel R. Gomez/Scott, and her brother, David, predeceased her.

Many thanks to her health care providers, UCLA Health, Drs. Daniel R. Greenwald and Richard
A. Belkin, and Central Coast Nursing and Hospice.

Sharon’s Celebration of Life is February 21, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 909 N. La Cumbre Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93110. Reception to follow.