Sheila Lummis

Sheila W. Lummis, 87, of Gloucester, MA, passed away peacefully on September 10, 2023. She was the daughter of the late William L. White, Jr. and Mary Brewster Faught. Born in New York City, she graduated from Greenwich (CT) Academy in 1953, going on to graduate from Vassar College in 1957. She also earned a master's degree from Columbia University.

Sheila first entered the workforce in the nineteen-seventies as part of the former Xerox Corporation's corporate giving department, where she established the Xerox Community Involvement Program, which offered senior executives opportunities to work on service projects in their communities. She moved to Channel 13/WNET in New York as a corporate underwriter, where she enjoyed many successes, including securing funding to allow The MacNeil/Lehrer Report to expand its broadcast commitment to eventually become the program now known as the PBS NewsHour.

Sheila loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, especially being with them at the beach. She was loved and treasured by her extended family. Wherever Sheila was there was a great meal, lots of talking and uproarious laughter. Her family and friends always marveled at her joie de vivre and new acquaintances couldn't help but be captivated by her firecracker spirit and glorious red hair. She traveled widely throughout her life, with her last trip a Portugal cruise in the summer of 2021. She also loved live music, reading quietly and discussing politics vociferously.

Surviving her are her five children, Max (Emma), Mary, Sheila (Tom), Jamie (Kristen) and Benjamin (Trina). She was also the proud and adoring "Sheeba" of her eleven grandchildren: Irene, Vera, Sam, Bridget, Oona, Hank, Owen, Ian, Asher, Kate and Reyer. Sheila is also survived by her beloved sister-in-law, Conni White, her stepsister Angela Ross and her devoted nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother Tell White.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Gloucester, MA at a later date. Contributions may be made in Sheila's memory to any of the following: Gloucester Education Fund, 185 Main Street, Gloucester, MA 01930; to the Magnolia Library, 1 Lexington Avenue, Gloucester, MA 01930; the Trevor Project, Attn: Development, PO Box 69232, West Hollywood, CA 90069: or Conspirare, 1812 Centre Creek Drive, Suite 110, Austin, TX 78754.

Arrangements by the Campbell Funeral Home, Gloucester. Information and condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com