Sharon Bigot

EDITOR’S NOTE: A church community is created when people gather together for the love of God. At the same time, Saint Philip’s is comprised of many people who represent different ages, life experiences, and world views.

The “In conversation…” series is one attempt to create possibilities for connection between the different people in our community. As varied as we all are, there are also similarities and mutual interests waiting to be discovered. And there is one thing we all share: a desire to know God and be in relationship with him.

This week’s conversation is with parishioner and volunteer Sharon Bigot.

How long have you worshiped at Saint Philip’s?
Since I moved from Minnesota to Tucson in August of 2021.

What brought you to Tucson?
My husband and I first visited when our son attended the University of Arizona for graduate school in 1990. He lived here for 20 more years so we visited regularly. But when my husband got ill our son moved back to Minnesota to help us out. After my husband died in 2013 our son stayed.

COVID made clear to him that all his friends were here in Tucson. So he moved back. It was then that I realized I was stuck in a rut.

I was in a house where I’d lived for 50 years. I knew that I would need an incentive to clean it out so I decided to follow my son to Tucson. And here I am!

Were you raised in a faith tradition?
I was brought up in the Lutheran church.

Which service do you typically attend?
The 11:15am. I love the music and the formality of that service.

I lived in East Africa for two years (1961-63) and that’s where I was introduced to the Anglican Church. It felt like I’d come home.

How are you involved in the parish?
I volunteer as an usher. I also helped with the Christmas pageant last year. That was great fun so I hope to do it again this year.

Let’s return to Africa. What took you there?
Just generally the fact that it was an exotic place that I had always wanted to see. My degree is in pharmacy and when I was a senior in college I learned about a program under the US Agency for International Development called Teachers for East Africa. It was looking for people who had a chemistry, physics, or math background and a desire to teach. So with my pharmacy background and openness to learning how to teach I met the basic requirements to get training.

What was your experience in Africa?
It was terrific! But, the longer I was there the less I knew. All the shades of gray that you don’t see initially became visible only with time.

I was in Kampala, Uganda  and got a Cambridge Diploma of Education at Makerere College. It’s right on the equator so there were always 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. And the sun set immediately. It was a fascinating to experience. And it was so lush that you could put a stick in the ground and it would start to leaf.

I was posted to teach chemistry at a Boys' Secondary School in Machakos, Kenya. Machakos was drier and not so lush, but giraffe roamed freely near the school. My African students were very bright and interested in learning, so it was fun to teach.

Where else have you traveled?
I spent a summer in Australia, traveled to Japan several times, visited China, Europe, and got back to Tanzania about five years ago for a safari.

What did you do professionally before retiring?
I was a pharmacist and worked at a university hospital for 26 years.

What’s something you’re proud of?
I’m proud of the volunteer work I’ve done all my life. I was very involved with the American Association of University Women (AAUW), including serving as the President for the Minneapolis branch. It was a large group with about 400 people. I learned a lot and grew a lot during that period.

I was also a docent at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, as well as the Como Japanese Garden in St. Paul. That was especially helpful when I worked. I was in charge of ensuring chemotherapy treatments were prepared correctly. If a mistake is made with an intravenous dose, the patient is more likely to die—so my job came with a lot of pressure. It was a relief to visit the Japanese garden and be quiet and relax.

Do you volunteer in Tucson beyond what you do at Saint Philip’s?
I do! I’m a docent at the Tucson Museum of Art and Tohono Chul Park. I’m involved with the League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson, serve as Treasurer for the Companions of the Holy Cross, and volunteer at El Presidio.

What inspires you to keep so busy?
I think life-long learning is exciting!

What’s one of your guiding principles?
Part of being old is that I’ve learned to be grateful and look at each day as a wonderful gift. I also try not worry too much. Accept what is.

What’s one of your super powers?
I find it easy to make conversation with people. I think that’s a super power because part of making conversation is asking people about themselves—and then listening to them. It’s harder and harder for people to listen to each other so I do my best to do that. And I learn so many interesting things!

What have I not asked that you would like people to know?
Two things.

I volunteered for Theater in the Round for about 10 years. I did audio description for people who were low-vision or blind. I loved doing that.

It was a fun challenge because I couldn’t interfere with the dialogue to explain things. Descriptions had to be worked in between the actors' lines.

The other thing is that AAUW had a marionette team that would put on shows for up to 900 children in a year. It was great fun to learn how to manipulate the marionettes. It’s hard to believe but the kids would line up and speak to the marionettes instead of the people holding them.

What’s a fun fact about you?
I build miniatures. The type of material depends on what I’m making.

What do you find compelling about that?
It’s like being a child with a dollhouse. The tiniest scales are the most fun. I have a French village with a bakery, restaurant, hotel and a flower shop. The four buildings are in a space in which 1/12 inch=one foot. The most common miniature scale is 1 inch=1 foot.

What’s something about you that might surprise people?
I don’t have a cell phone!

Missed an interview? All previous interviews can be found on Saint Philip’s website under the “About Us” tab. Click here to visit that page.