Born and raised in West Hartford, Mayor Shari Cantor’s journey into public service was deeply influenced by both personal challenges and her deep passion for community building.
After graduating magna cum laude from the University of Connecticut in 1981 with a degree in accounting, she worked at Cigna while pursuing her Master’s Degree in social work.
Like many women of her generation Shari’s life took a predictable and steady course early on. While working on her career she married Michael Cantor and the couple bought a home here and had three sons. But their life took a dramatic turn when their fourth son, Jacob, was born with complex congenital heart defects. Before his second birthday Jacob underwent three open-heart surgeries, requiring specialized procedures in Boston to repair his heart.
It was a time that is seared into her memory, Shari says. She recalls how three other babies in the same ICU with similar heart problems died while Jacob was being treated in Boston. Jacob was born at Hartford Hospital, which has a close relationship with Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. That partnership, Shari says, is what gave him a better shot at survival because of early intervention and high-quality infant medical care nearby.
The experience, she says, “was paradigm shifting. I realized we were very, very lucky to have access to immediate and high level medical care for Jacob. I saw other families in the same situation who weren’t as lucky and I saw the real impact of not having a better level of medical care nearby.”
It instilled in her a deep passion to help others. With her husband often traveling, Shari left the paid workforce after Jacob’s birth to care for him and his brothers. As his health stabilized around second grade, she agreed to fill a vacancy on West Hartford’s Town Council at the urging of a local politician.
“The deputy mayor stopped me and said ‘You’d be really good on the council would you be interested in serving?” She took on the job and despite some initial trepidations she ran for council in the following general election.
“I was in my mid-40s and I never had a vision for running for office or running for anything.”
Although she came in last out of six candidates in that first political contest, the experience sparked her interest in public service. She began actively engaging with the community, listening to concerns, and learning from others, she says.
“I started to get out into the community and talk to people. I started to reach out to a variety of people and got a lot of really good feedback on their concerns and the types of issues that were directly affecting them.”
Strengthened by her experiences with her youngest son, community-building and helping others became a passion, she says. She went from a political neophyte to a well-known local leader and a highly visible and compassionate community booster.
One of her first initiatives was establishing the town’s Poet Laureate program. It remains a point of significant pride for her.
“I do feel the arts and outreach in the arts can connect people and anything that brings people together helps build community. And that’s where my passion is, building community.”
She also served on the board of the Central Connecticut Heart Association, advocating for better heart health resources. Under her leadership, West Hartford earned the designation of a “Heart Safe Community,” equipping public buildings with defibrillators and promoting heart-saving knowledge throughout the town.
Cantor’s dedication to public health and community engagement extended beyond her own experiences. She pioneered initiatives like the pink trash cans fundraiser to support breast cancer research, a creative project that gained widespread community support.
Her efforts to rebuild and strengthen the Senior Citizen Advisory Committee led to a flourishing group that effectively addresses the needs of older residents. She also played a pivotal role in revitalizing the Senior Job Bank during the economic downturn of 2008, ensuring it remained a valuable resource that pairs senior citizens seeking jobs with companies in need of workers.
Shari has been committed to meeting the challenges of housing shortages and rising costs by working with investors to add high quality multifamily residential development throughout town at a wide range of price points from affordable to luxury including rental and ownership.
Her professional accomplishments are matched by her extensive civic engagement. She serves as Chair of CT Children's Foundation Board and as a UConn Trustee. She is a board member of Hartford Stage and an advisory board member of Playhouse on Park. She and Michael, founder of Cantor Colburn LLP, a leading national law firm specializing in intellectual property law, have supported educational initiatives and have contributed significantly to the cultural and artistic landscape of the region.
Throughout her life she has adroitly balanced her professional and personal lives.
She and Michael raised all four of their sons, Joshua, Sam, Ben, and Jacob, in West Hartford. All are now grown, some with families of their own, and thriving. The couple has two granddaughters.
Despite her demanding schedule, Shari’s commitment to her family and her community remains unwavering. From her personal struggles she has hit heights of professional triumphs and remains driven by a deep desire to help others.
“It takes empathy, it takes a lot of listening and a lot of energy to do this job, but I’m committed to my community and I love my community.”