Sheila Anne Todd passed away surrounded by family and love on August 20, 2021 in her Vicars Landing home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. She was 87.
Sheila embodied what it means to live life to its fullest. Her Scottish father captured her spirit perfectly in his childhood nickname for her, “Spunky”. Sheila left an impression on everyone she met, with her lively stories and her bold colored fashion. It was not uncommon for her to make a new friend on an airplane ride or with a store clerk. She was abundantly curious and loved learning about people's lives. As friends and family have shared their stories, it is clear that Sheila touched many lives in meaningful ways, often providing subtle support - sometimes just by listening, sometimes through inspiration, often accompanied by a small and meaningful gift.
She was enormously generous sharing meals, books, and being incredibly open about her own life story. You often knew exactly how she felt about anything. Sheila was fiercely determined and strong willed. She usually did exactly what she wanted, and by her own standards, she “did, traveled, and saw everything that she wanted to.” Sheila loved her family unconditionally, always showing up for her grandchildren’s events, large and small. She made every occasion feel worthy of a celebration. Sheila loved to travel, visiting most of the continents. Among her favorite locations were Nantucket, Maine, the Grand Canyon, Sequoia and Acadia National Parks.
Sheila had many interests, including current events, book club, music, calligraphy, theater, needlepoint, Japanese flower arranging, bridge, history and French. Sheila had a beautiful voice, was an excellent cook and loved animals, especially her beloved cats.
Sheila was a lifelong learner and deeply valued education. She went to school at Branksome Hall in Canada and Hathaway Brown in Ohio. She attended numerous colleges including Bryn Mawr, William and Mary/Old Dominion, Goucher and the University of Maryland, where she received a second undergraduate and a Masters degree. Sheila was a certified Clinical Nurse Specialist in both Gerontological and Psychiatric Nursing and worked at Sheppard Pratt and Levindale in Baltimore. In 1991, Sheila received the Outstanding Advanced Clinical Award from the Maryland Nurses Association.
Sheila is survived by her son, John (Ginger) Eliasberg, and grandchildren Claire Eliasberg (Andrew Moir) and Jake Eliasberg and cousins Susan Bright Nguyen and Margy Bright Schone. She will be buried in Butler, KY, in a cemetery near what was once her grandfather’s orchard, overlooking the Licking River, alongside her mother (Genevieve Holmes Todd), father (William Todd), brother (John William Todd) and daughter (Carol Diane Eliasberg-Martin).
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute - https://give.unf.edu/continuing-education) c/o Kathleen M. Leone, M.Ed., CFRE; Senior Director of Development for Academic Affairs; P: 904.620.1838 Email address: k.leone@unf.edu; UNF Foundation, Inc, 1 UNF Drive, Alumni Hall, Jacksonville, FL 32224. Please visit the online Tribute at www.quinn-shalz.com.
