Sheila “Shelley” Goldblatt (86) died peacefully at home surrounded by her family after a prolonged illness on July 21, 2021. Born Sheila Levine to Thelma and Louis Levine she grew up in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn. She had many friends and had a love for art which was a passion she rekindled later on in life. She had an older brother Harold and an older sister Charlotte.The Levine’s spent many summers in the Catskills in South Fallsburg. This is where Shelley, just out of 10th grade at the age of 15, met Seymour “Sy” Goldblatt, 17. This meeting grew into a love story that would endure her entire life.
Sy and Shelley were married in 1954 and their first home was a small apartment in the back of a house on Embargo Street in Rome, NY. Sy worked at Griffiss AFB and then they moved to New Jersey when Sy was transferred to Fort Monmouth. There they had their two oldest sons, David and Steven. In 1962 the family moved to Plainview, NY and had one more son, Kenny. Sy and Shelley had a vibrant social life and their home was the center of many social events for friends and family. Sy and Shelley brought their aura of love and friendship wherever they went and whosever lives they touched. To be with them even just for an afternoon or an evening, one felt as if they had a deep connection with Sy and Shelley, the loving couple.
When her youngest son, Kenny was well into his school age years, Shelley pursued her higher education at Nassau Community College and graduated from SUNY Old Westbury. She then went onto receive her Masters in Social Work at Adelphi University. Shelley had an open heart, a witty understated sense of humor and a generous spirit giving much of her time and passion to her profession. She started her career working with people struggling with addiction with YMCA outreach in Smithtown, NY. After years of practice, she went to form a collaborative practice, Affirmations, whose goal was to provide counseling to those struggling with addiction and HIV, in particular those that were underserved. She was known for compassion and dedication and was loved and admired by so many.
Shelley was a person of great talent particular in artistic expression through drawing and painting. Her works featured people, many involved in the activities they loved, particularly dancing. Her art was not for sale, they were displayed, given as gifts or sat quietly in the back room of her studio at home. After ten years, she decided it was time to move on to other pursuits.
Shelley’s next pursuit was being a devoted, loving grandmother to her grandchildren Ian, Josh, Hannah, Jessie, Emma and Colin. For reasons still unknown, even to Ian, Ian gave her the name “Bookie”. The name stuck, grandma Bookie remained closely connected to all of them. She would listen to them, entertain them and be their Muse encouraging them to pursue their talents. In later years Sy and Shelley would spend winters in Long Boat Key, Sarasota, Florida where her desire to connect and share in a mentor and sponsorship role was with the arts and theater community. Sy and Shelley were active members and patrons of the Asolo Theater where they supported and mentored aspiring actors.
But their efforts were particularly focused on supporting and sponsoring an organization that would provide an entertainment venue for aspiring black actors and singers, The West Coast Black Theater Troupe (WBTT). Shelley received many musical tributes and expressions of love from these singers during her final months when either COVID quarantine or her illness prevented her from in-person attendance.
Shelley died after a two year struggle with lung cancer and dementia. Despite her loss of strength and memory, she made every attempt to express kindness, love and gratitude to all who cared for her and to all her friends and family. That captured her legacy, an open, loving, generous heart and spirit whose presence will outlast the years she spent on this Earth.
There will be a private ceremony and burial attended by family. Donations in her name can be made to the American Cancer Society.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18