Sheldon Rice

Sheldon Martin Rice, of Brooklyn, NY, died unexpectedly on May 14, 2026 of an apparent heart attack. He was 83. Sheldon was born in New Haven, CT on January 23, 1943, to Lillian Talsky and Irving Rosenblatt. His biological father died when he was 3 years old, and his mother married Milton Rice, a New Haven attorney, who adopted Sheldon at age 6.

Sheldon graduated from Hillhouse High School in 1960, Yale University in 1964, and Harvard Law School in 1967. Upon graduating from law school, he moved to Manhattan and joined Nassau County Legal Services, a “poverty law” agency, where he worked with a social worker to represent public assistance recipients who were being denied their lawful benefits. He hated the legal work but loved the social worker’s role, so he entered Hunter College School of Social Work and received an MSW degree in clinical social work in 1971. After retiring from a long career at the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services, he maintained a private psychotherapy practice in his home office.

While living in Manhattan, Sheldon met Rena, originally from Brooklyn, and they were married in 1969. In 1972, seeking more space and lower rents, they moved to Park Slope, Brooklyn. They rented for 7 years and bought a brownstone in 1979. Their daughter, Zoë, was born in 1976.

Shel, as he was known, was an exceptional human being. When hearing of his death, the first word from everyone was “kind.” He was kind—and empathetic, thoughtful, insightful, smart, funny, and always curious about the world and people. These qualities were evident in his work with patients—one said, “He helped me more than anyone can ever know.” He was an amateur Holocaust scholar, and before Covid, served as a docent at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Manhattan. He enjoyed classical music, was always informed about national and world events, and wanted to learn everything about everyone he came in contact with.

Shel was always a collector, starting with a stamp collection as a child, then antique tin boxes, and finally English and American Victorian era majolica. He and Rena had one of the largest collections in the country, with pieces of aesthetic and historical importance. He was very proud that about 25 of their pieces were chosen for the Majolica Mania exhibition at the Bard Graduate Center Galleries in Manhattan, the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, and the Potteries Museum in England, as well as approximately 200 photos in the 3-volume catalogue accompanying the exhibit. He was a board member of the Majolica International Society.

In later years, Shel became passionate about sustaining Yiddish language and culture, and attended Yiddish language lessons at the Workers Circle, first in person and after Covid, online. He had reached the most advanced-level class.

Shel was a loving and devoted husband to Rena and father to Zoë, who survive him.

To honor Sheldon’s passion for Yiddishkayt, the family kindly requests that contributions be made to The Workers Circle in his memory.

https://www.circle.org/