Birth date: Oct 30, 1945 Death date: Dec 31, 2022
Sharyn Elizabeth Heiland Shields, 77 of Tallahassee, passed away Saturday December 31, 2022, with her loving family by her side. She was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey to Ted and Margaret Wallace Heiland on October 30, 1945. S Read Obituary
Hey Sharyn! I remember my first Fall at FSU, August 1983: you showed us around Montgomery Gym and had a mnemonic for that alarm pad outside 403. The switch to set it was left or right and Richard Sias’s office was just there on there on the left, so “Richard is alarming” set the tone most effectively. We made some good dances together. Remember Three Boys Dancing Solo? Fever? And your well crafted and inspired choreography that I had the pleasure to watch from the house. You were so generous with your thoughts and lesson plans when I took on the Dance Composition course. I was so impressed at the way you reinvented your career path after Dance and delved into local history. A great role model! Also enjoyed those few visits to you and Thom out at Lake Talquin. I think you can be satisfied with a life well lived. Peace.
My heartfelt condolences to Tom and Sharyn’s family and friends. I met Sharyn in the mid 1990’s when she was in the midst of pursuing her second career as an archaeologist. She began work with us at the National Park Service Southeast Archeological Center and quickly established herself as a very productive member of the team who were upgrading the storage of our collections. She became the leader of the team and a valued colleague for all of us. Her dedication and creativity were awesome. She became a valued friend during her years there. I followed her research on Verdura Plantation with great interest and was really pleased and impressed when she got her book published. I feel very fortunate to have known such a talented and caring person.
Rest In Peace.
Richard Vernon
FROM Odette Salvagio ------
Sharyn was a good friend and colleague while I was at FSU - always ready to celebrate or commiserate! She sometimes had a sharp tongue but she also had a good heart and a willingness to “go the extra mile” to guarantee that all were treated fairly.
She was unafraid of speaking truth to power and was willing to suffer the consequences-though she seldom found that burdensome. She lived life fully and with great vigor-and generally in shorts.
She loved to plan events, keep secrets, and enjoyed surprises-though not if she was the one surprised. And never, never, never, never deviate from the route of a planned road trip.
We all were truly affected by her. I was always a bit more earthy, but Sharyn was always glowing.
I first met Sharyn in 1964 when I returned to FSU’s dance program for “one year only” (famous last words). She was one of a small group of dancers who seemed remarkably committed to the art itself and to the discipline it required and the joy it yielded. Although she had successful professional experiences at other institutions, her life led her back to FSU where she contributed her significant talent and creativity as a performer, a choreographer, a teacher, a thinker and innovator to the developing dance program at FSU for many years. I cannot think of the evolution of the program into one of the country’s major dance centers without thinking of Sharyn as a memorable and valuable asset to its history.
I share with the many who knew her our strong sense of loss and our gratitude for all she gave to us.
Our love and sympathy to Thom,
Nancy Smith Fichter
Sharyn was a innovative force-or-nature. She devised a summer concert series, furthering opportunities for part-time faculty to showcase work. We called it June Dances; beloved nickname,“Who's June?” by Sharyn. We sang “Taking a Chance on Dance” to Taking a Chance on Love at the beginning.
A chameleon and consummate performer herself, Sharyn's inventive choreography could reveal the multifaceted bonds of human relationships in the abstract. I remember how MOTHER RING, for Dr. Ficther and Kathy Eggent, explored the tensions of fidelity within a world ruled by family ties.
I also remember her as a wonderful friend/listener/sounding-board for my own work. She gave well-grounded observations to consider. Richard Sias adds his memories of her skillful and generous work mentoring undergraduate choreographers for 12 Days of Dance. She was constantly in a studio with them, inspiring their imaginations.
And, she had a wicked sense of humor. I will miss her spirit on earth.
Always vibrant with a smile to say all are welcome in my world. Sharyn, you were sweet and kind and will be terribly missed by us, but colorfully remembered! You were our little trendsetter here at the lake. The night you walked into happy hour with a bright purple streak in your hair, was the night we knew you were the coolest! We love you and you'll always be in our hearts. We too will look after Thom as I know you will as well. May you rest in peace.
Sharyn's creative mind was constantly moving full speed ahead !! I first met Sharyn during the Bella Lewitzky Dance Co.summer residency at FSU and can remember her watching our rehearsals , later becoming involved with various company residency logistics in Florida and some on Lewitzky Co. tour.
As my time at FSU became more frequent , so did opportunities to work together on various dance projects.Sharyn had so many interests, talents and an unlimited creative energy. Nothing seemed unsolvable !!!!!! I admired her sense of intent and drive in revealing unknowns.
Performing with Sharyn in the reconstruction of Doris Humphrey repertory was a definite dance highlight . Sharyn was a performer, choreographer ,teacher and published author. It seemed her appetite to search, research and know more spilled over in so many art forms......a gift to all who might be included in her process.
Sending much love to Thom , Sharyn's family and friends..........
The Sharyn spirit resonants in many wonderful ways.....
Lynda Davis
I would like to send thoughts of comfort and condolence to Tom and Sharyn’s family and friends at this time. I enjoyed and admired Sharyn’s creativity, discipline, and wry humor ( we shared many wicked laughs) from the time we shared an apartment during graduate school at FSU over 50 years ago, and though we went our different paths over the years, I was so impressed with her most recent pursuit that led to the really interesting publication of her Chaires project work! She was both an artist and a scholar throughout all of her contributions. I know she will be missed by many. Patty Howell Phillips
