Robert Stephen Shelford

Robert Stephen Shelford, 79, DeLand, FL, a writer, poet and editor, died June 23, 2008 at The Hospice Care Center. A New Jersey native, Mr. Shelford moved to DeLand in 1985 from Upstate NY. In New York State, he was a newspaper reporter, legal editor, public information director, and publisher of a weekly newsletter on government activities. He retired after 18 years service with the State of New York at Albany. In Albany, he was active in the Capitol Hill Choral Society, Public Relations Society of America, NYS Government Public Relations Society, and Lake Onderdonk Improvement Assn. at Westerlo, NY. In DeLand, he was a prize-winning/published poet and adjunct instructor at DBCC. His recent books include: "Poetry Mechanix and Toolbox" and a novel, "Ergot Orange". With his DBCC students, he published "Odd Forms & Light Verse" and "Sonnet Variations". He was an active member of the Florida, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia state poetry associations. Also, DeLand's First Florida Poets, the Orange City Grateful Group, Friends of the Stetson University School of Music, and Sequitur. His wife of 34 years, Elizabeth "Liz" Shelford, predeceased him. He is survived by a daughter, April G. Shelford of Washington, DC; a sister, Jeanne Stolz of Lawrence, KS; six stepchildren; 14 grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren. Memorial donations to Hospice of Volusia/Flagler, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL 32129.