Sheryl Siegel

News Obituary Article

CHAMBLEE: Sheryl Siegel, 56, loved taking photographs

By DERRICK HENRY

After 15 years as a travel agent in Atlanta, Sheryl Siegel decided to try her hand at freelance photography.

"That became her passion," said her brother, Bert Siegel of Birmingham.

She attended photography schools in the U.S. and Italy and consulted with a success coach. Soon she was landing advertising accounts and placing photos in Newsweek and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

In 1994, she volunteered her photography to the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games.

Ms. Siegel became indispensable to the organization. "She was a workhouse, very dependable, always professional and always calm," said Laine McCall of Atlanta, ACOG's photography projects manager and Ms. Siegel's assignment editor.

"She shot the opening ceremonies for Centennial Olympic Park, which ran worldwide, and covered the first medal ceremony for the 1996 Olympics," added Ms. McCall, now an image technician for the AJC.

Ms. Siegel, 56, of Chamblee died Tuesday of breast cancer at Hospice Atlanta. The graveside service was Tuesday. Johns-Ridout Funeral Parlors Southside Chapel in Birmingham was in charge of arrangements.

Ms. Siegel volunteered with organizations that help disadvantaged children, including The Atlanta Project. She tutored reading at an elementary school and taught children photography.

In 1993, after visiting the Christian Community Council's Women and Children's Shelter in East Atlanta, she produced a calendar of pictures of children as a fund-raiser.

Her "Share the Love" calendar raised $2,000. That success inspired her to produce a second calendar benefiting other children's charities.

Four years ago, Ms. Siegel was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. She joined the Wellness Community Atlanta support group and shared her story in the just-released "B.O.O.B.S.: A Bunch of Outrageous Breast Cancer Survivors Tell Their Stories of Courage, Hope & Healing," published by Cumberland House.

For fun, Ms. Siegel enjoyed square dancing. "She'd dance until 3 a.m.," said her friend, Robin McILvaine of Marietta.

Survivors include her mother, Marion Siegel of Birmingham; a sister, Susan Brooks of Memphis; and two other brothers, Eric Siegel and Lennie Siegel, both of Birmingham.

© 2004 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution