Robert P. Sheils

Airline Executive, Lawyer and Civic Member

Robert P. Sheils, Esquire, 83, died August 29 in Newtown after a brief illness. His wife Genevieve preceded him in death.

Born in New York City, December 24, 1921, he was the son of William J. and Loretta Sheils. He grew up in New Rochelle, N.Y., as the second youngest child in a family of nine children.

He graduated from Fordham Law School with a Juris Doctor degree in 1950. He served in the US Army Air Corps during World War II as an aviator with responsibility for piloting General Robert Travis. His father was a prominent member of the New York State Democrat party and served as the Surrogate Judge for Westchester County.

Mr Sheils moved his family to Ardsley, N.Y., in 1951, where he was a prominent “Ardsleyan” until he moved to Newtown in 2001. His Ardsley years included time as an associate village justice, involvement in the Lions Club, youth sports, as well as other civic duties including board work for the then Dobbs Ferry Hospital (now Community Hospital at Dobbs Ferry).

His professional career encompassed more than 40 years as an airline executive for Pan American World Airways and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, where he utilized his law degree and concentrated his expertise in international labor relations. He belonged to many professional organizations throughout his career. He also practiced law in private practice prior to his retirement.

He was an avid golfer and a member of the Knollwood Country Club in Elmsford, N.Y.

Surviving are his sons Robert Jr of Clarks Summit, Penn., Michael of Orlando, Fla., Thomas of Dobbs, Ferry, N.Y., William of Stockton, N.J.; daughters Mary Ellen Travis of Brookfield and Trish Mellas of Wyckoff, N.J.; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; a brother Richard; sisters Ann McCormick and Pat Loughman; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial mass will be held September 24 at 11 am at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Ardsley, N.Y. A private internment will be held by the family at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Valhalla, N.Y.

Memorial donations may be made to the Red Cross, Hurricane Victim Unit, American Red Cross, Northwest Louisiana Chapter, 42221 Linwood Avenue, Shreveport LA 71108; Community Hospital at Dobbs Ferry, 128 Ashford Avenue, Dobbs Ferry, NY  10522; or your local charities.

The Newtown Bee      September 9, 2005