The ASDP Charitable Foundation is honored to announce a sizable donation from the family of Sharon Zydiak and the New Jersey Chapter in her memory. Here are some of her chapters reminiscences of this longtime member of the NJ chapter:

Sharon Zydiak, a founding member of the New Jersey chapter, passed away in April of lung cancer. She was very dedicated to PACC/ASDP. Even after she retired and became sick she still attended as many meetings as she could. She was an instructor and sales person at Fabricland in North Plainfield, NJ for a number of years and pointed many people towards ASDP from that position. She had her own dressmaking and bridal shop on Main St. in High Bridge for a long time called "Dial-a-Style".

Sharon was a former winner of the Make It With Wool competition. She helped judge the New Jersey chapter’s original jurying program. This program eventually formed the basis for the current MSDP program.

Three binders full of photos of her creations over the years including wonderful suits, jackets, dresses and bridal gowns were found in her studio. Some photos were included alongside a clipping of a garment that was the inspiration. The binders also contained a number of glowing thank-you notes from her customers.

Like so many of us, Sharon had collected several sewing machines, a wonderful resource library of books and Threads magazines, a dress form, yards of fabric, and tons of notions and supplies. Her husband, not knowing what much of it was or what he should do with it, contacted Sharon’s ASDP friends. The chapter organized and facilitated a profitable sale with the last of the items being donated to a non-profit called "So You Can" run by Vivian Burns. This organization runs after school programs, summer camps, and adult ed classes for children and adults to teach them to sew to empower them, give them something to do, etc.

Sharon’s husband, Wayne, wholeheartedly agreed to Lois Anderson’s suggestion that the profits be donated to the ASDP Charitable Foundation. So Wayne got his house cleared out of a lot of stuff he knew nothing about, many people got new supplies and a little bit of Sharon to hang on to, and the New Jersey chapter got to support two charities that encourage sewing in the process.

Sharon was a talented dressmaker, a good friend and mentor, and a knowledgeable teacher who was totally dedicated to her craft. Although she is sorely missed by the New Jersey chapter and all of her ASDP friends, being the kind of person Sharon was, she would be thrilled to know she helped others prosper in a career she was so passionate about.

We thank Lois Anderson, President, ASDP NJ Chapter, for these memories of Sharon and for inspiring this significant donation to the ASDP Charitable Foundation.

Through donations such as this and those from other members the Foundation is picking up momentum. We hope to be assisting future sewists soon. We welcome your support.