(July 26, 2010) Sharon Benoit, publicity whiz during the glory years at 710/KMPC in the ‘60s and ’70 and later a trade publication executive, was celebrated on Saturday at St. Bede’s Catholic Church in La Canada during a celebration of life ceremony.

Sharon was remembered as “surfer girl” by Father Kevin Kester, the St. Bede’s priest presiding over the event. “They had planned on using that Beach Boys song as the final song of the service. Surfer Girl has a certain beauty to it that reflected her vitality and that she died much too young at 63.”

Sharon was very active at St. Bede’s Church and helped coordinate many fundraisers. Friends in the church loved to hear her tell stories of working at KMPC, which was known as “The Station of the Stars.” They would marvel at what a great storyteller she was.

From those who shared Saturday morning, it was clear that family came first. She left behind her husband, Steve Benoit (described by one participant as ‘Mr. Right’ for Sharon), daughter Stephanie, two grandchildren and many relatives.

Sharon loved to travel and go camping with her family.

One of those sharing stories Saturday morning, Michelle Nattoni, said she and Sharon had been friends since high school. Sharon had obtained two tickets to the Hot August Night concert with Neil Diamond at the Greek Theatre. “For weeks it was all she could talk about. We went to dinner beforehand and when we got to the Greek Theatre her tickets were missing. No amount of talking with the Greek staff was going to get us in. She thought she had them when we went to dinner. We left the Greek and returned to the restaurant and sure enough there were the tickets on the floor and we made it back just before his first song. And 40 years later I was able to replay the experience when Neil Diamond was back on tour at Staples Center. I told her we were going to America.”

Sharon's daughter Stephanie and husband Steve Benoit

Betty and George Nicholaw, former KNX gm, attended the services. George knew Steve Benoit from the days when Steve’s father, Bob Benoit, was a horse racing PR director. George used to run the final stretch call from Hollywood Park and Santa Anita Park on KNX.

Other LARPs at the ceremony included Nancy Cole, Sherri Blinoff, and Bob Maryon.

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