Richard George Sheldon

Richard G. Sheldon, of Sarasota, FL formerly of Akron, Ohio and Chicago, IL passed away on Nov. 4, 2016 at the age of 87. He was born on Jul. 22, 1929 in Akron, OH to the late Robert E. and Ethel Leona Greer Sheldon.

Richard received his Bachelor’s Degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He served his country in Korea for two years and learned a great respect for his country. After Korea, he attended University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business, where he served as the business manager for the Chicago Review. He was in his element at the University of Chicago, helping to bring Frank Lloyd Wright, Truman Capote and Allen Ginsburg to speak at the campus.

He enjoyed a successful career in the banking industry: He established the Money Market Center in Chicago for The First Boston Corporation and from 1961 to 1968 was with Continental Bank in Chicago, where he was instrumental in the opening of their Money Market Department. Richard went on to work at Ashwell and Company where he served as their vice president. He was always concerned with the environment and the impact of uncontrolled growth. He was the president of the Wauconda Environmental Project in the early 1970's which worked to provide education on environmental concerns and promote recycling.

Richard enjoyed reading, swimming, sailing, classical music, and politics. His mind was razor sharp and could always come up with a quick retort being able to argue both sides of an issue. He was a philanthropist in Sarasota who gave much of his time to multiple causes: He was a founding patron of the skate board park, served on the No Boss Mayer Initiative, served on the Save Our Sarasota (SOS) committee, was an officer on the Sarasota County Government Planning and Development Services Business Center( PFFAB) and served as board member of GWIZ for many years and when they had financial troubles, served as their president for one year without financial reimbursement, making sure that the staff was intact, served as the president of the Council of Neighborhood Association (CONA) as a past member of Control Growth Now (CGN).

He enjoyed reading and was particularly fond of the Travis McGee series by John D. MacDonald. He possessed an indomitable spirit and was fearless; he once took his sailboat to the island home John D. McDonald had in Sarasota and asked him to come out and chat, they did. As a result, he later collaborated to help develop the John D. MacDonald conferences in Sarasota.

Survived by his wife, Silvia Blanco; they were together 36 full years, he is also survived by his children, Richard Sheldon (Barb), Victoria, and his step-son, Michael Rivera (Alexandra) and his cherished grandchildren, Steven and Gregory Sheldon; as well as Randy Palmer who he loved as a son.

A Celebration of Richard’s Life will be held on Fri. Dec. 9, 2016 at 2 pm at Sarasota National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tidewell Hospice, Inc.