Plan for the Future
Sheila Conlin, 84, of New Providence, NJ formerly of Summit, NJ passed away on June 20, 2023 at the continuing care center at Lantern Hill.
Daughter of the late Dr. John Buchanan Barrett and Delphine Sullivan Barrett of Cleveland, OH she was born in New Castle, PA on November 6, 1938. Her early years were spent in Tudor City District of New York City as her father was assigned as a Senior Surgeon on the US Transport Shawnee during World War II.
She relocated with her mother and siblings after the war back to Cleveland. She attended high school at St. Joseph’s Academy in Cleveland, OH earning a diploma in 1956. She then attended Immaculata College in Washington, DC and finished her Bachelor of Arts studies at Albertus Magnus in New Haven CT earning a degree in 1960.
She was accepted as a TWA hostess and received the wings of a TWA hostess on February 14, 1964. She moved to NYC and began her career as an international flight attendant based out of JFK airport shortly thereafter.
She met and married the late Peter Conlin and settled in Summit, NJ where they raised three daughters, Kitty, Patricia and Molly.
She rejoined TWA in 1982 after a class action lawsuit reinstated former attendants who had suffered a pregnancy-based firing. She flew international routes based out of JFK airport.
In April 1993, she was awarded the Civilian Desert Shield and Desert Storm Medal for her service in transporting US military Gulf War personnel (1990-1991) from the United States to Saudi Arabia.
She loved flying internationally and spent most of her career flying to London, Paris, Frankfurt and Tel Aviv which were her favorite destinations. She often flew flight 800 to Paris and lost dear friends when it went down off Long Island July 17, 1996.
Sheila continued to fly for TWA until the airline was acquired by American Airlines in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks.
She was pleased to able to attend the TWA Convention at JFK in 2019 where Retired Trans World Airlines employees came together for a large reunion. She enjoyed reuniting with old colleagues and friends and spending the weekend at the old JFK terminal now a fashionable hotel.
She was a former member of Baltusrol Golf Club and Morris County Golf Club, Fortknightly Club of Summit, Summit Junior League, and TWA Clipped Wings International. She had fond memories of playing tennis and golf with friends and shared stories often of her extensive travels throughout the world. She enjoyed visiting her grandchildren in Charlotte, NC and spending time with them and her daughters in Bay Head, NJ.
She is predeceased by her daughter Kitty Conlin Lobo, her first husband Peter Conlin, and her sister Delphine Barrett.
She is survived by her brother Michael Barrett of San Francisco, CA, daughter Patricia Conlin and friend Jeff Leitz, daughter Molly Tucker and her husband Lin and her three grandchildren Charlie, Barbara and Martha.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St Teresa of Avila, Summit NJ at 10.45 am on September 9, 2023. A celebration of life luncheon will be held following the Mass.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Sheila’s name may be made to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital.
