Within her 48 years on this earth, Sharon Monsky had lived a life filled with more adventure and accomplishment than most people who have lived twice as long. As a young girl, she was a nationally ranked figure skater and one of the top Olympic contenders in the United States. In 1965, she was the youngest female figure skater to have ever achieved the Senior Ladies’ Gold Medal Compulsory Skating Award.

Sharon met her best friend and future husband, Mark Scher, at Pitzer College, where she later received her BA in Economics, and graduated at the top of her class. As a new graduate, she moved to San Francisco where she worked on the Pacific Stock Exchange for First Chicago and ran the most active options trading desk at the exchange—while standing on a box to compensate for her 5-foot-1-inch stature as she barked out orders.

Defying her original prognosis by two decades, Monsky continued lobbying in Washington for funding and recognition. Under her leadership, the SRF raised $14 million and helped establish two research centers, including the San Francisco Bay Area Scleroderma Research Center at UCSF.

She valiantly battled scleroderma, and with her gifts of charm, intelligence, perseverance, and incredible courage, dedicated her life to making a difference. That dedication is the legacy that has already led to remarkable advancements in treatment options, and will one day, end this disease.