Contributions to the tribute of Sheila Kay Fein

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Shelley Goddard donated to THE ASSOCIATION FOR FRONTOTEMPORAL DEGENERATION

Thursday, April 18, 2024

So sorry for your loss. My love and deepest sympathies go out to you and your family. Sending love and hugs. Shelley

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Joshua Brain posted a condolence

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Sheila was a complex person with strong opinions, a sharp wit and a keen eye for anything related to design. One of my earliest recollections of her dates from the mid-80's when Jerry asked for her help renovating and redecorating his first house on York Street. Which fixtures or furniture should he save or re-use, Jerry naturally asked. The answer? None. It's all crap and has to go! Years later, during an early renovation of their new house in Cherry Creek, Sheila wanted something different and distinctive for the bathrooms. The results included several custom pieces (often made by Jerry, implementing a design from Sheila), including a never before seen glass sink. From that tiny acorn sprang the business of Vitraform that became the principal focus of Jerry and Sheila's professional life for the next three decades. In the mid-90's, my wife and I decided to build an "arts and crafts" style shingle house in Connecticut. Despite living 1,800 miles away (and despite our choice of a style not defined by minimalism and not capable of being executed in black and white), Sheila threw herself into that project with gusto. She designed extensive built-ins and custom items of furniture, and then commissioned a local artisan to make them. She designed the layout and selected tiles for every tiled surface in our house. She picked the stone for every countertop. She selected all the plumbing and lighting fixtures, draperies, and wall colors. And she later picked most pieces of furniture. In the moment, I struggled with the budget. But the result was exceptional and has held up incredibly well over time. Many homes built in that period now look dated and out of fashion. But virtually everyone who has seen our house in recent years (including realtors keenly aware of changing tastes) have told us how timeless our house seems and how appealing the design still is. I wish Sheila had retained the sensibilities she had when she worked on our house so many years ago -- and was still here with us to enjoy it.

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Brian and Priscilla uploaded photo(s)

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

We had the opportunity to work with Sheila on photography for Vitraform, and it turned out to be a wonderful creative experience in many ways. The photo of her with Mamah exemplifies what she meant to us... caring for all the details, working behind the scenes for perfection, striving for her vision to be captured and, of course, her love of Poodles. Her portrait, done in my studio in 2014, shows the atmosphere in which she loved to create. Sheila's strength, creativity, determination and personality were one in a million. We will miss her.

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CJM posted a condolence

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Although I met Sheila more than 20 years ago, our paths rarely crossed unless a poodle from Laurel Berg was involved. Sheila loved her ‘girls’. She was rather reserved until she picked up a puppy; her eyes would light up and her tone of voice would change. Each puppy in the litter would be gently held and talked to. Sheila would evaluate and select just the right poodle for her. She dearly loved her poodles and ensured that they were well behaved and in appropriate poodle attire (groomed). I pray that all of her poodles that were waiting at Rainbow Bridge have now been reunited with her.

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Suzy Meinert posted a condolence

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

I get the sense that so many of us only knew a part of Sheila, and just in case my bit is different than anyone else's bit, I thought I would share. Before I met Sheila, I knew her only as the wife of my biking buddy. I wondered at her generosity in sharing him, as we biked more days than not. When I did meet her in person, she was funny, and kind, and I loved how Sheila and Jerry set each other up for their punch lines, admirable after a full day and, ultimately, lifetime, of working together. I marveled at her apparent creative and artistic genius and then her travelling on her own across the globe. I remember Jerry sharing with me that Sheila cried when she saw, I think it was just a photo of, Jerry's most recent biking mishap wound. And I remember Sheila cheering me on through the dark ages of my dating years and being there for me in the hospital for a medical procedure and then again visiting after the birth of my daughter. A lot to do for your husband's playdate. In more recent years, when her disease robbed who she was from her, I spent more time with her. Until she couldn't anymore, she always made it known that she appreciated me and really cared about my family. Through her confusion Sheila doted on my daughter. Cassie laments not having had the opportunity to know the artist that she was. In the end, it is the best of ourselves that defines us. May those be the memories that make for our blessing.

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Laurie Josephs posted a condolence

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

I have been thinking of all the things I loved about Sheila over our 40 plus years of friendship. She was smart, quick-witted, passionate about creating beautiful things, and very helpful whenever asked. I think of all those hours she spent skiing with me when I was first learning. Her patience was incredible. And while my form was nothing that she (nor I) could ever be proud of, she was always encouraging. One time I remember skiing ahead of her onto an icy ravine on which I had no business whatsoever. I fell quickly and loudly. As I lay propped on a rock, Sheila followed me onto it and also fell, much more gracefully, right next to me. As we both lay there, she said "Jane, you ignorant slut." We had a good laugh and then somehow managed to get out of there without ski patrol help. That is the Sheila I will remember.

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The family of Sheila Kay Fein uploaded a photo

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Sheila Kay Fein

1952 - 2024

Chapel Service

Graveside Service

Shiva/Condolence Calls