We mourn the loss of our beloved friend, Board member, and long-time supporter Sheila Lambert, z’l.
Rabbi Joy Levitt used the word “breathtaking” in her eulogy, and that one word described Sheila perfectly. She was breathtaking in every way.
Magnificently dressed, driven, and deeply committed to everyone and everything she loved—Sheila was a force of nature.
I met Sheila 11 years ago, when I stepped into the CEO role at Avodah. She immediately asked me questions that most supporters don’t: about my staff, about our board, about governance. We quickly grew close. She spoke with such love about her beloved JCC, Project Kesher, Bottomless Closet, and so many other places – too many to mention. She served as a bridge between nonprofits, sharing best practices with us while also passing ours along to others.
Sheila was generous in every way. When my son was bar mitzvahed, she sent a hockey jersey and tickets to a game, clearly something she had found at an auction and saved just for him. She did this for everyone in her life.
She especially did this for Avodah. When she joined the Avodah Board, she didn’t just serve; she made us stronger. She quickly joined three committees, took over development, offered to lead governance, and took on many special projects —all within a year. One of her last pushes for Avodah was setting up Legacy giving. I am now in awe that, in the midst of battling cancer, she was thinking about how to make sure Avodah sustains beyond this moment.
The more I learned about Sheila, the more I understood her draw to Avodah. Sheila had a lifelong commitment to service, and because of that, she loved meeting Avodah participants and alumni who shared in that passion. Sheila worked endlessly to support Avodah. She hosted our Board, our supporters, and the celebration for my 10-year anniversary at Avodah in her home. She met our Jewish Service Corps Members and our Justice Fellows, helped them make New York feel like home, and cared for them. Sheila helped relaunch the local advisory council, determined to build a stronger base of support in NYC. She dreamed boldly about what was next. “What if we…” were her favorite words. And she didn’t just dream—she worked. She generously gave her time, wisdom, and resources to make things happen.
She embodied strength — she had strong opinions and strong convictions. She always strived for the best, challenging the rest of us to keep up with her energy and drive. She also wanted to mentor others; all we can hope is that we learned enough to carry her lessons forward in our work.
She spoke often about how much she loved our staff, how much she loved working with Shira, our Chief Strategy Officer, and how much she loved me. She closed many conversations by saying, “I love you.” She treated everyone with equal care and respect.
Sheila gave everything she had until her last breath. Sheila was indeed breathtaking.
Sheila is survived by her dear husband, Bill, and many generations of loving family.
May her memory be a blessing.
Cheryl Cook, CEO
