Sheila Hehmeyer Obituary

Hehmeyer OBE, Sheila MacArthur of Westport, Ct, and formerly of Chicago, IL, passed away at Greenwich Hospital on Tuesday, February 3, 2004 due to natural causes. She was 77. Born on March 2, 1926 in Penarth, South Whales, she was the daughter of the late Gordon Alexander and Dorothy Blackmoor MacArthur. Mrs. Hehmeyer was honored with the Order of the British Empire by the Queen of England for her work promoting Anglo-American cultural exchanges. She is a Donor Founder of the new Museum of Scotland which highlights the international achievements of the Scots. She is also on the Special events Committee of the royal Academy of London (Based in New York) and was a patron of the London Royal Academy. She was also on the board of the English Speaking Union and was named an Outstanding Woman of Connecticut in 2003. A strong environmental supporter who has led many groups in Chicago and Westport to preserve landmarks and to promote the theory of open space. Her modeling career brought her to the U.S. with the "new look". A very successful high fashion model who traveled for a great many top designers and then became a very successful fashion director for a chain of elegant boutique stores. Having her own TV show and radio show was still very interested in fashion all at the executive level. Mrs. Hehmeyer is the national Chairman of The American Friends of Sadler's Wells Theater Group, an organization which promotes exchange visits between American dance companies and the famed Sadler's Wells company in London. She was also invited to join the Women's Forum of United Nations, which encourages internationally minded women to participate in the workings of the United Nations. She was also a patron of the Royal Ballet School. She was a member of the Black Watch Council of Fort Ticonderoga. She was also on the board of the Merritt Parkway Conservancy. Mrs. Hehmeyer is predeceased by her husband Alexander F. Hehmeyer and her sister Jill Mears. Mrs. Hehmeyer is survived by her daughter Gillian Steel of Greenwich, CT, step-son, Alexander M. Hehmeyer of San Francisco, CA, stepdaughter Christine H. Rosso of Milan, Italy and Chicago, IL and seven grandchildren. A celebration of life will take place 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 7, 2004 at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 954 Lake Avenue, Greenwich, Ct. Interment will be held privately. Additional services will be held in Chicago, Il and London, England at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be kindly sent to America's Friends of Sadler's Wells 26 Prince St., Unit 2A, NY, NY, 10012. Leo P. Gallagher & Son F.H., 31 Arch Street, Greenwich, Ct, is handling the arrangements.