- Date Of Birth: May 19, 1946
- Date Of Death: September 21, 2021
- State: Connecticut
Sheila Joan Smolens Traub, 75, of Greenwich CT, passed away after a brief illness on September 21, 2021.
Sheila was born on May 19, 1946, in Bryn Mawr, PA. After graduating from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in 1968 with a B.A. in French, Sheila went to work on Wall Street.
Sheila was committed, always, to serving the non-profit sector. She was founding Chairman of the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. In New York, Sheila was on the board of directors and treasurer of Health Advocates for Older People, Inc., where she was involved in the planning and construction of a 19-story assisted living facility on Second Avenue. An officer and board member of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (PA), Sheila eloquently advocated for historic preservation and the study of early US history.
Sheila was graceful and had a classic sense of style. She was intellectually curious and always learning. She was a voracious reader with deep passions, ranging from the study of religions, historic preservation and art, to interior design, global travel and theater. Sheila loved cooking and baking, and entertained with perfection. An elegant writer of fiction and essays, she was an insightful editor too. Sheila treasured her friends and took great joy in showering them with thoughtful gifts. She was an angel to many.
A dear friend from college sums up Sheila’s unique approach to life this way: “Despite that China doll appearance – her flawless skin and delicate frame – she was a warrior for everything and everyone she believed in and loved.”
Sheila is survived by her son Patchin Barrett Traub, her goddaughter, Charlotte Healy, and her devoted friends. She was predeceased by her beloved parents, Stanley and Alice Smolens, and her adored cousin Beth Luce.
