Sheila A. McDermott, Principal of Lee Associates, a human resources consulting firm and Trustee Emerita of tufts University, died suddenly at her home in Medford on November 4. She was 71.
A resident of Medford throughout her life and a product of the Medford public schools. Sheila graduated from Tufts University in 1957 with a B.A. in Modern Languages. She became a Personnel Assistant for Riverside Press in Cambridge, the manufacturing subsidiary of Houghton Mifflin, and moved up to Personnel manager. When the plant closed in 1971, she decided to take a chance at entrepreneurship, joining forces with a co-worker and founding Lee Associates, a consulting practice based in Lexington and Medford. For the past 36 years Lee Associates has worked with banks, insurance firms, school and municipal systems in the areas of employer relations, compensation planning, performance evaluation, OSHA, compliance issues, and training.
Sheila maintained a lifelong connection with Tufts University. She was an Alumni Trustee from 1991 to 2000, chairing the Audit Committee and serving on the Academic Affairs, Administration and Finance, and Honorary Degree Committees. She was elected Trustee Emerita in 2001. A former President of the Tufts University Alumni Association, she held a host of leadership positions within that body and received its Distinguished Service Award. She was a member of two Boards of Overseers, Arts and Sciences and Student Life, as well as the Friends of the University Libraries. She interviewed prospective students as a member of the Tufts Alumni Admissions Program and actively volunteered for all of her call reunions. She was also an active member of the Boston Tufts Alliance, the Association of Tufts Alumnae and the Tufts Jumbo Club.
In her home community of Medford, Sheila was a member of St. Joseph parish, where she is dearly remembered for sharing her time and expertise on the Finance and Liturgy committees. She also took great joy in participating in the annual Medford Jingle Bell Festival, a holiday charity event that raises funds to support Alzheimer’s patients. She was also a member of the Fortnightly Club, a Medford charitable organization.
Sheila leaves her godchild, Michelle Gallipeau of Ipswich, a godchild and cousin Barbara Roos of Arlington, Virginia. Her cousins Marion Gallipeau, Peter Gallipeau, Richard Gallipeau, Jr., James Gallipeau, Jacquelyn Cousens of Middletown, RI, Craig Roos of Nantucket, Elin Roos of New York City, Carol Graber of Parsippany, NJ, William Roos of Mountain Lakes, NJ, and her cousins’ many children and grandchildren.
As an expression of sympathy memorial contributions may be sent in Sheila’s name to the Little Sisters of the Poor, 186 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02144 or The Ronald Brinn Scholarship Fund at Tufts University, c/o Brigette Bryant, 80 George St., Medford, MA 02155.
Funeral from the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford Friday at 10 AM followed by a funeral mass celebrated in St. Joseph Church, 118 High St., Medford at 11 AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours Thursday 3-8. Services will conclude with burial at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford.