Sheila Ruth Chapman, 53, passed away in Dallas on February 18, 2013, after a lengthy illness. Sheila was born in Sioux City, Iowa, and graduated from the University of Iowa in 1981. She met her husband, Jeff, in 1977. They married in 1980, moved to Boston, then settled in Dallas in 1983, where they built their lives together over the past 30 years.
Sheila was very committed to her faith, family, friends and community. She loved many things about Dallas, but her greatest passion was for our community’s children. She was a wonderful mother to her three great kids, Andra Lynn (26), William Garrett (23) and Morgan Leigh (16). She also was an excellent teacher, having taught special education at Notre Dame School and mathematics at Bowman Middle School. Following her retirement from teaching, she served for many years as a board member of Vogel Alcove for Homeless Children, including as Chair of the Board from 2010 until 2012. There was nothing Sheila would not do for homeless children, from feeding a baby at the Alcove to soliciting the most powerful people in Dallas for donations to support her precious Vogel kids. Her passion was children, her calling was serving the homeless, and her dream was for there to be a day when there would be no further need for an organization like Vogel Alcove.
Sheila volunteered for many other organizations and groups in Dallas, including the Gladys Golman/Fay Education Fund, Greenhill School, the Jewish Community Center, the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the National Council of Jewish Women, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and Yavneh Academy.
Sheila was an incredible wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. Her strength, courage, kindness and wisdom made all who knew her better people themselves. Her beautiful smile lit up the room. Her favorite movie as a child, The Wizard of Oz, featured a saying that is particularly telling: “A heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.” By that measure, Sheila’s heart was boundless.
Sheila is survived by her husband and three children; her parents, Robert and Shirlee Rivin of Dallas; her sister Beth Donaldson of McLean, Virginia; her sister Naomi Meislish of Beit Horon, Israel; her cousin Nancy Rivin; and countless other relatives and friends.
A funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at Congregation Shearith Israel, 9401 Douglas Avenue, in Dallas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Vogel Alcove, Southwestern Medical Foundation, The University of Iowa Foundation or Yavneh Academy.
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