Sharon Riche

The author was born Sharon Lisa Elbaum in 1966, Brooklyn, New York. She graduated from U.C.L.A. in 1988 with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Business Administration. Sharon is the proud mother of three adult children including two sons and one daughter. She resides in Southern California with her husband and is currently writing her fourth book.

Sharon is the author of three published books: "Just One More Day", “Tear Stained Pages" and “Through the Eye of Love”

In October 2018 Sharon was bestowed the honor of having copies of Tear Stained Pages featured in the permanant collection of the prestigious Yad Vashem Library in Jerusalem Israel as well as the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. All three of the author’s books were specially selected by Readers Magnet to be featured in the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.

Sharon's father, Nathan Elbaum was a Holocaust survivor and a hidden child of the Holocaust. Her second book, "Tear Stained Pages" recounts his harrowing tale of survival, evading the Nazis with his family in occupied Poland. Although the book chronicles his horrifying experiences it also expresses the intergenerational transmission of love and gratitude. Sharon’s father survived to live an extraordinary life. Sharon has spoken at a variety of venues about the book, the Holocaust, the legacy of her family and the implications for second generation survivors.

For the past several years, Sharon has searched for Holocaust survivors to share their experiences at her chapter's annual Hadassah Holocaust Remembrance events. Sharon is a contributor in various Second Generation Holocaust Survivor Groups and a honorary member of several Children of Holocaust survivor organizations. On a regular basis she does presentations for the Museum of Tolerance Witness to Truth Speaker series and is a LAPD speaker as part of the course for the Professional Development for Law Enforcement Program. She also does educational presentations at the Holocaust Museum of Los Angeles as a Descendant of Remembrance Speaker educating 5th to 12th grade students. DOR, Descendants of Remembrance, is a collective of children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors who seek to steward the legacy of their family history to connect through personal stories, inspire cross-cultural conversations, and educate against hate. As an educator for the Speakers Bureau Sharon presents to students, museum visitors, schools and community groups. The author is a member of Shoah Legacy Writers, an organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of Holocaust survivors through their children's voices. Her most recent blog on Holocaust Education was published in the Times of Israel.

Sharon’s third published memoir “Through the Eye of Love” is about her story of facing the world with a massive hemangioma. She struggles with permanent blindness in one eye and being labeled “Ugly Eye” by her bullies. Despite her challenges she learns to find her beauty within herself.

"Just One More Day", Sharon's first book, is about her experiencing the death of her mother weeks before her wedding. Sharon is actively involved in Motherless Daughters of Los Angeles which provides support to grieving motherless women. Sharon was inspired and healed by the book, "Motherless Daughters", written by best selling author, Hope Edelman, whom she met in 1997 at the first annual Motherless Daughters Day Luncheon. Since first meeting Hope twenty five years ago, Sharon has continued to enjoy her visits with her at this special luncheon.

Losing her mother to breast cancer has led Sharon to become passionately active in various organizations such as Hadassah of Southern California, whose many purposes include finding the cure for breast cancer. Her most recent article “The Pink Ribbon” was published in the Times of Israel as a member of the Hadassah Writer’s Circle.

Sharon was always encouraged by her philanthropic parents to give back to her community. Along with being a Lifetime member of Hadassah she is a member of the Hadassah Writers’ Circle and serves on the board of B’Yachad Hadassah of Southern California. As a UCLA Alumnus Sharon ardently participates in evaluating, reading and scoring UCLA merit scholarship applications of incoming UCLA Freshmen.

Sharon most recently was awarded as the recipient of the 2023 President’s Gold Volunteer Service Award.

As of today at the age of 60 Sharon has outlived her mother who passed away at 49 years old. This milestone has reinforced her realization that life is precious, just as her father once said to her mother, "We are only here for a visit." Walking the footsteps that her mother never had a chance to take has instilled in Sharon the purpose to live a life of meaning. It is Sharon's hope that once you read her books, "Just One More Day", "Tear Stained Pages", and “Through the Eye of Love” you will live life fully and with meaning as well.

In addition to being an author, Sharon works in retail banking as a Citigold/Private Client Advocate in the Personal Banking and Wealth Management Operations sector for Citibank.

Sharon enjoys playing mah jong, fitness, hiking, traveling, singing, listening to her kids play guitar, photography, and treasures her time with her husband, family and friends.