Sheila Houghton Metcalf

METCALF, SHEILA HOUGHTON, of New York and Exeter, RI, died July 25, after a long illness. She was 55 years old.

The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Houghton P. Metcalf, Jr., she was raised in Providence. She graduated from Miss Hall's School in Pittsfield, MA. After receiving her B.A. from the University of Rhode Island, she received a B.S from the Columbia University School of Nursing. In addition, she graduated from the City College of New York with a degree in Landscape Architecture.

As a nurse, she worked in New York for Montefiore Hospital and The Visiting Nurse Service of New York. Later, she changed careers and worked for the New York City Department of City Planning in their Waterfront and Open Space Division. A project manager working to transform New York's Fresh Kills Land Fill into a park, she was at the Department of Sanitation until her death. Her responsibilities there included administering the Percent for Art program at the landfill.

She was dedicated to the arts, to the expansion of open space in New York, and to the preservation of historic neighborhoods.

Ms. Metcalf is survived by her mother, Mrs. H.P Metcalf, Jr., her brother Stephen Metcalf, and her sister, Katherine Metcalf Sheldon, all of Providence. She is also survived by her husband, George Cronin, of New York, as well as ten nieces and nephews.

Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to either RISD Museum or Protect the Village Historic District. Checks should be made payable to Open Space Institute/PVHD and mailed to Box 537, 511 Sixth Ave., New York, N.Y., 10011