April 18, 2025

Sharon A. Anderson, 76, of Kennett Square, died Monday, April 14, at Chester County Hospital in West Chester. She was the wife of John “Jay” Anderson, with whom she shared 55 years of marriage, filled with laughter and joy. Born in Rising Sun, Md., she was the daughter of the late Samuel Tolton and the late Patsy (Burns) Tolton.

For more than 40 years, Sharon worked as an elementary school teacher in the Kennett Consolidated School District. Many of those years were spent teaching 4th grade at New Garden Elementary. Sharon brought so much dedication and creativity to the classroom, turning every lesson into an adventure that her students still remember and cherish to this day. For her, teaching was an art.

Sharon’s creativity and art reached far beyond the classroom. She was renowned for crafting handmade cards for everyone she knew for birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. She never forgot anyone or any important date. She had a keen ability to make each and every person feel special and remembered.

Sharon lived a life of profound curiosity. She loved antiquing, gardening, traveling, and learning people’s stories. One of her greatest gifts was staying in touch with all the people who mattered to her.

She mentored many new teachers who have remained close friends from her years in teaching. In particular, the “Lunch Bunch” got together regularly and maintained their ties of friendship into retirement. Sharon was also a member of a yoga group who ventured out as a “book club” that rarely finished or even discussed the book. Rather, they used the time as yet another opportunity to share friendship, love and support.

Most of all, Sharon was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Sharon was a beacon of strength, love, and encouragement to her family. Her incredible sense of humor and ability to keenly organize any event (from her color-coded calendar to her many to-do lists) will be fondly remembered. From sharing cultural events to annual vacations in Cape May as a family, Sharon’s husband, children, and grandchildren have been beyond blessed.

Sharon was always a truly kind person and will be missed beyond measure.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her son, Eric Anderson (ViAnna) and daughter, Kristen Anderson (Kevin); her grandchildren, Zachary and Emma; and her brothers, Randy Tolton, Barry Tolton, Brian Tolton, and Patrick Tolton. Sharon is also survived by many extended family members who remained close through the annual family reunion that she organized for many years.

You are invited to visit with Sharon’s family and friends from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 23, , at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 10 West Pleasant Grove Road, West Chester, PA 19382 (consider approaching West Pleasant Grove Road via Street Rd/926 to S New St). Her funeral service will follow at 11. Interment will follow the funeral service at Union Presbyterian Cemetery, 5637 Street Road, Kirkwood, PA 17536.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Sharon’s memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org/).

Arrangements are by Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. of Kennett Square. (484-734-8100). To view Sharon’s online obituary and leave condolences for the family, please visit www.griecofunerals.com.

Rodman Wister Moorhead III, a visionary investor, generous philanthropist, and devoted champion of education, conservation, and community, died on Dec. 17. He was 81.

Rod was born in Harrods Creek, Kentucky, a suburb of Louisville and the home of the Kentucky Derby. He attended The Taft School in Connecticut, where he was a legendary running back, team captain, and student leader, graduating in 1962. He earned a BA from Harvard College in 1966 and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1968.

After early work in New York and a formative stint in Costa Rica, Rod joined E.M. Warburg & Pincus, then a young venture capital firm. Over a 30-year career, he became a general partner and managing director, helping lead the firm’s expansion from $40 million to over $15 billion in assets. He spearheaded early investments in healthcare, including Humana, U.S. Healthcare, and UnitedHealthcare—deals that defined the firm’s success.

Rod’s impact stretched far beyond finance. Aware of how much he had gained from his own education, he gave generously and led boldly. At Taft, he joined the Board in 1991 and served as Chair from 2006 to 2016. He led a transformative capital campaign, created the Moorhead Academic Center, and championed teacher support and scholarship expansion.

At Harvard, he supported the Medical School’s work in neurobiology and global health, co-chairing the Discovery Council and helping establish professorships and seed grants in memory of Paul Farmer.

A passionate conservationist, Rod served on the boards of the Stroud Water Research Center, the Brandywine Conservancy, and the Jackson Hole Land Trust. His leadership helped preserve hundreds of acres in Pennsylvania and Wyoming. The LEED Platinum-certified Moorhead Environmental Complex at Stroud stands as a testament to his vision for environmental education.

At Buttonwood Farm, Rod bred and raced steeplechase horses, including The Mean Queen, winner of the 2021 Eclipse Award. He was a devoted supporter of the Willowdale Steeplechase, the Cheshire Hunt, and countryside preservation—always combining his love of land with his belief in legacy.

Rod also championed journalism, community health, and the arts, helping strengthen institutions like ICFJ, La Comunidad Hispana, and the Brandywine Museum, where he helped add notable artists to the permanent collection.

Rod lived a full and active life—fishing, hunting, foxhunting, and exploring the world with friends and family. He had a rare ability to be both driven and warm, demanding, and generous. Those who worked with him remember his loyalty, his questions, and his courage to lead.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Alice; their sons Roddy and Clay; daughters-in-law Brooke and Jillian; and five grandchildren.

Rod’s legacy lives on in the land he preserved, the institutions he shaped, and the lives he uplifted with intellect, humor, and heart.

A celebration of Rod’s life will be held at Buttonwood Farm (361 Lambortown Road, West Grove, PA 19390) on May 8, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests considering gifts to one of the charities, which Rod was passionate about, such as Stroud Water Research (stroudcenter.org/support/), The Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art (brandywine.org/brandywine/supporter), Jackson Hole Land Trust (jhlandtrust.org/waystogive).