Robert Leo Sheeran

Robert Leo Sheeran

Robert Leo Sheeran (Bob), 92, died November 26, 2018 with his family at his side. He passed away at his beloved home, Stonegate Cottage, located on the Snoqualmie River in Fall City, Washington, a place he often referred to as a slice of heaven. 

Robert Leo Sheeran (Bob) was born January 29, 1926 in Waseca, Minnesota. He was the youngest of five brothers born to Agnes Hayden Sheeran. While growing up in the Great Depression the family faced numerous hardships, but with hard work and a strong mother the family persevered. When Bob turned seventeen in 1943, his patriotic duty led to his withdrawal from high school and enlistment in the U.S. Navy where he joined the submarine service. Bob made two successful Pacific wartime patrols in the U.S.S. Picuda, (SS-382). When he was discharged in the spring of 1946, Bob returned to Waseca where he finished his last year of high school. Bob attended St. Thomas College in St. Paul Minnesota where he graduated in 1951 earning a business degree with an emphasis in accounting. After graduation, he accepted a position as an account executive for Merrill Lynch in Minneapolis.

In 1951, Bob married the light of his life, Betty Brown, the daughter of Rodney and Vera Brown of Waseca, Minnesota. Sixty-six years of a loving marriage followed, and Bob was fond of saying, "if I had not found Betty, I would still be looking for her."

In 1961, Merrill appointed Bob the first manager of a new office in La Jolla, California. While in La Jolla, Bob became the first lay member selected for the Board of Trustees for the University of San Diego. During his tenure on the Board, he was instrumental in the consolidation of the mens and womens colleges and the law school in what has become todays well known University.

In 1967, Bob was appointed a Vice President of Merrill Lynch, and in 1969 assumed the position of Vice President and Manager of the new office in Seattle, Washington. In 1978, Bob was appointed Senior Vice President and elected to the Merrill Lynch Board of Directors. After forty years of service to Merrill Lynch, Bob retired in 1991.

While in La Jolla and then Seattle, Bob was very active in community services of each city. While he held many more positions than listed some of the most notable are:

Trustee, University of San Diego, 1964 - 1969.
Forest Ridge Advisory Committee, 1972 - 1980.
Chairman, United Arts Council Fund, 1972.
President, United Arts Council, 1973.
Trustee, Corporate Council of the Arts, 1973 - 1991.
Board of Visitors, University of Puget Sound Law School, 1973 -1975.
Board of Regents, Seattle University, 1974 - 1975.
Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Seattle University, 1975 - 1988.
Board of Directors, Washington Athletic Club.
Chairman of the Board for the National Association of Security Dealers of the Northwest, 1986 - 1989.
President of Security Industry Association of the Northwest, 1989 - 1991.

After retirement, he became Chairman of the Finance Committee for the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land, a charity whose sole purpose is to help Christians remain in the Holy Land. He was also a member of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre in La Jolla and founding member of the Seattle chapter.

Bob was an avid pheasant and duck hunter. He enjoyed raising his Labrador Retrievers, of which there were many in his lifetime, to accompany him on his hunts.

He is survived by his four children, Mark Sheeran, Kerie Kremian, Renee Sheeran and Conleth Golob, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Bob was predeceased by his wife, Betty Sheeran,  his parents, John Michael Sheeran and Agnes Hayden Sheeran and his four older brothers, Norbert, Edward (Don), Francis (Frank) & John all originally from Waseca.

A memorial Mass will be held for Bob and Betty on Friday, May 24, 2019 at 10:00 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church (111 4th St NW) in Waseca.