It is with great sadness that Circle Family Care must inform the community that Len Sharber, chief executive officer for Circle Family Care since 1984, passed away on June 29. His sudden death leaves an enormous void in the West Side community and in the professional circles of Human Services. He has been part of the Circle family since 1978 as pastor, counselor and community leader. Mr. Sharber was an ordained minister of the American Baptist Churches and currently in the Advent Christian Church. He was also an advanced family therapist, certified by the Family Institute of Chicago in 1980. He has served as a youth pastor at Hope Community Advent Church in Chicago, a therapist for Central Austin Counseling Center (a pre-cursor of Circle Family Care) and as pastoral counselor for Circle Christian Health Center (the other pre-cursor of Circle Family Care).
Mr. Sharber also served on a number of boards and organizations. He was immediate past chair of the Illinois Primary Health Care Association, president of the Westside Health Authority, secretary/treasurer of the Cook County/Community Health Council, and co-convener of Local Area Network 67 for Child and Adolescent Services. Mr. Sharber sat on the local Federal Emergency Management board and was president of the Prairie States Conference of Advent Christian Churches. He was a professional member of the American Family Therapy Academy.
The board of directors of Circle Family Care has named Bessie Sulton Akuamoah as interim CEO. Ms. Sulton Akuamoah has been a member of Circle Family Care’s senior management team since 1985, and most recently served as director of Behavioral Health Services and Program Quality. Ms. Sulton Akuamoah will continue to run the agency with the existing senior leadership team, ensuring that CFC’s services to the community continue uninterrupted.
The board and staff of Circle Family Care mourn the passing of Mr. Sharber and are committed to continuing his vision and Circle Family Care’s service to the community.
The Sharber family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Circle Family Care in honor of Len Sharber and the Len Sharber Memorial Fund. Checks should be made out to Circle Family Care, and donations sent to:
Circle Family Care
Len Sharber Memorial Fund
5002 W. Madison
Chicago 60644
Donations to the Sharber Family directly should be made out to Linda Sharber. Circle will forward any checks for this purpose to the family.
?”Jennifer Riskind
