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2016 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 457
Celebrating the life of Sheila Sachs Strauss.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 8, 2016
Agreed to by the Senate, March 10, 2016

 

WHEREAS, Sheila Sachs Strauss of Roanoke, a tireless advocate for the arts, outstanding volunteer for many civic and faith-based organizations, philanthropist, role model for many people, and a devoted wife and mother, died on February 25, 2016; and

WHEREAS, Sheila Strauss was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and moved to Roanoke in 1951; in the 1950s and 1960s, she worked with her husband, Maury, a developer, providing interior design services for model homes his company had built in new residential developments; and

WHEREAS, as a devoted mother and friend and a talented decorator, hostess, and volunteer, Sheila Strauss shared with all those around her a love of the arts and culture and emphasized the importance of giving back to the community; and

WHEREAS, countless organizations have benefited from Sheila Strauss’ active engagement and generosity; she and her husband helped establish the Art Venture Program, a children’s art activity center at the Taubman Museum of Art, where she was a member of the board of trustees; and

WHEREAS, Sheila Strauss enthusiastically supported many volunteer organizations, including the American Cancer Society, the Roanoke Ballet Theatre, many Jewish women’s organizations, and Opera Roanoke, which honored her with a 40th anniversary gala in October 2015; and

WHEREAS, over the years, Sheila Strauss received many awards and accolades for her volunteer work and advocacy, including the Perry F. Kendig Award for outstanding support of the arts, the Taubman Museum Ann Fralin Award, and the Association of Jews and Christians Award; and

WHEREAS, Sheila Strauss also was known for her infectious enthusiasm and for providing support and compassion in times of need; she enjoyed entertaining, knitting, needlepoint, gardening, sailing, and travel; and

WHEREAS, a woman of great faith, Sheila Strauss had strong connections to the Jewish community of Roanoke; she was president and a board member of Temple Emanuel Sisterhood and president of Hadassah, Roanoke, and her legacy of volunteerism and philanthropy will live on throughout the Roanoke Valley; and

WHEREAS, Sheila Strauss will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by Maury, her husband of 65 years; children, Lesleigh, Steven, and Marc, and their families; and many other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Sheila Sachs Strauss of Roanoke, whose philanthropy, love of the arts, and volunteer efforts greatly contributed to the betterment of the community; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Sheila Sachs Strauss as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for her memory.