Sheldon Gilbert

Sheldon Gilbert died peacefully with his beloved family by his side on Monday, September 4, 2023. He had recently celebrated his 88th birthday together with: his wife Sara of almost 60 years; daughter and son (in law) Julie and John Rosicky of Crownsville, MD; and daughter Michele Gilbert of Bainbridge Island, WA complete with a chocolate milk shake and triple chocolate cake. He was joined in person and remotely by his treasured grandsons Bryce Gilbert Rosicky of Worcester, MA and Benjamin Rosicky of Kailua, HI. Shelly (as he was called by most) was the son of Joseph and Lena Gilbert, born August 30, 1935 and was predeceased by three older siblings: Irving, Esther and Manny. His parents ran a candy store in Brooklyn, and working there Shelly cut his sweet tooth and developed a passion for egg creams with Fox's U-Bet chocolate sauce. Shelly studied political science and urban planning at Brooklyn College and earned a master's degree from City College of New York. Among Dad's many talents was his love of music, singing and playing guitar. It was his musical prowess that helped him to meet his wife Sara, playing guitar on the bus ride from New York to Vermont on an American Youth Hostel Ski trip on December 29, 1962. Shelly and Sara were married on Dec 29, 1963 and lived in Queens, NY. After the birth of their two daughters, the family moved to North Andover, MA, where Shelly worked for the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) office in Boston, MA, and later at the MA Housing Finance Office. He was a meticulous urban planner and advocated to preserve natural spaces and wetlands and spend state and federal dollars wisely.
Shelly was passionate about his family and quietly but stalwartly supported the typical chaos of family life throughout his daughters' upbringing: two working parents, carpools, one phone line, one TV, two cars, four drivers, kids sporting events, and the typical adolescent shenanigans and angst. When Sara and Shelly retired to Mashpee, MA, he volunteered to lead the successful creation of a brand-new library in Mashpee, MA, as well as implement a robust recycling program. He and Sara traveled the world during these years and made many friends as they traveled. Throughout his life, Shelly continued his love for playing the guitar, singing, and performing in chorales and operas. He also was an avid whistler and had many avia­n friends who would join in his cross-species chorus wherever he went.
Wherever Shelly and Sara lived or traveled they made many wonderful friends with whom they have stayed close throughout their lives. Shelly will be sorely missed by so many who have known him through the years and recently at Charlestown Retirement Community, Catonsville, MD. Shelly will be most remembered by all as a gentle sweet man, with a beautiful smile and a kind word for everyone he met. In his last days, those who provided care for him were deeply touched by him. Shelly and Sara moved to the Charlestown Community in Catonsville to be closer to Julie and John in 2020. Shelly was content to be around his family and his bright smile always let us know that he was happy just to be there. While we all miss him terribly, he is at peace, and the many memories we all have of him will live on as his warmth and generosity of spirit will live in each of us.
Shelly supported many causes, but he supported his family most of all. That theme of family was a very important one to him. One of the things Shelly treasured most about his trips abroad was donating supplies and meeting young students in foreign countries. It is unclear who was more upset when he had to leave a classroom in Thailand, the students he was singing along with, or Shelly. As such, to support families worldwide, in lieu of flowers if you are so moved, please consider donations to a nonprofit organization based in the U.S. that helps connect cross-border families where Shelly's daughter, Julie, has been the CEO for the past 17 years https://www.iss-usa.org/donate/. Or, consider supporting those in need to live out their lives in dignity at Charleston at the Charleston Benevolent Fund. https://ccicharlestown.org/giving/benevolent-care/.