SHELBY MODELL

MODELL--Shelby: Philanthropist and Matriarch to the Modell Family, dies at 98. It is with profound sorrow that we honor the passing of our beloved Shelby Modell. Raised by Abe and Anna Zaldin in Brooklyn, New York, Shelby received her B.A. from Brooklyn College and her M.A. from Columbia University. In 1949, she married her cherished, late husband William D. Modell to whom she was happily married for 59 years. Shelby met her husband while vacationing at the Glenmere Mansion in upstate New York, where she fell in a lake and nearly drowned. William jumped in to rescue her, sparking a romance that resulted in a beautiful and long- lasting marriage. She has led a distinguished and longstanding career in philanthropy, benefiting the fields of medicine, mental health, education and the arts. Shelby was the matriarch of the Modell Family, serving as Vice President of Public Affairs for Modell's Sporting Goods. Founded by Morris Modell, in 1889, it was the nation's oldest and largest family-owned sporting goods company with 150 stores in the northeast. Shelby was the national co-founder of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation (CCF) and founder of the CCF, Long Island Chapter. She started the organization after her adored son, Michael, was diagnosed with Crohns in his teens, and then tragically passed away in 2001 due to long-term complications from the disease. She has since made the CCF her life's work and has changed millions of lives in the process: raising hundreds of millions of dollars for research in Michael's memory. In addition to the CCF, Shelby was the founding member of the American Digestive Disease Society and a founder of the Jeffrey Modell Foundation for immunological research. Modell was a founder of the Gilda Radner Foundation, "Gilda's Club," and served as secretary on its board of trustees. She was also a founder of Hewlett House, a breast cancer resource center. Shelby was also very politically active behind the scenes. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed her to the negotiating committee of the U.S. Panama Canal Treaty. In 1979, Mayor Abraham Beame appointed her as a commissioner on the New York City Youth Board. In 1987, Governor Mario Cuomo appointed her to the New York State Council of the Arts. Modell served on the prestigious National Health Council of Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and was responsible for raising $150 million to build their new Psychiatric Institute. Subsequently, she received a special Presidential Commendation for her efforts in promoting research in mental health. More notable than her incredible list of achievements, Shelby was a devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to all. Her life's purpose was helping people; she was the person that everyone went to for the best advice for their loved ones. Shelby left a lasting and meaningful impact on all who were lucky enough to cross paths with her. She is survived by her sister, Claire; sister-in-law Doris; her children, Leslie, Mitchell; and daughters-in-law, Abby, Leslie and Robin; and grandchildren Shawn, Alex and Gila, Missy, Andrew, Ashley and David, Brittany and Jeremy, Ashley, Maxwell, Matthew; nieces and nephews, Judy, Mindy, Lisa, Louis, Peter, Neil; and great-granddaughter, Myka, named after her late son, Michael Modell. The service will be held Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 10:00 am at Riverside Memorial Chapel. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America Research Fund in memory of Shelby Modell.