Sears
NEW YORK MILLS — CSEA is mourning the loss of Shelia Sears, a longtime Central Region activist who held numerous leadership roles throughout our union. She passed away on Dec. 15, 2024, at age 74.
Sheila was a CSEA member for more than 40 years, working as a library assistant at SUNY College in Marcy and later at the Utica Law Library.
Known as “Miss CSEA” by other CSEA activists, Sheila served in numerous leadership roles throughout our union during her career and remained active in our union as a retiree member.
Sheila served as president of the Utica State Employees Local before joining the Unified Court System in 1994. She later served as treasurer of the Region V Judiciary Local from 1994 to 2020.
On the region level, she held the positions of Central Region 2nd and 3rd Vice President, and chair of the region’s Education Committee. On the statewide level, Sheila served as a CSEA delegate, AFSCME delegate and chaired CSEA’s statewide Education Committee, as well as the Judicial Board. She also served as a delegate to the Central New York Labor Council.
In early 2021, Sheila retired from her career but remained involved in our union through membership in the Oneida-Madison-Herkimer Tri-County Retirees Local 914. She served as a Sergeant-At-Arms during the 2022 Retiree Delegates Meeting.
According to her obituary, Sheila’s close friends included former Central Region President and current St. Lawrence County Retirees Local 923 President Colleen Wheaton and former Region V Judiciary Local President Donald Lynskey, who is now also a Local 914 activist.
In her free time, Sheila enjoyed traveling, including trips to Ireland and the casino.
Sheila is survived by her son; two brothers and a sister; nieces and nephews and many friends. Services were held on Dec. 28, 2024.
— Nicholas Newcomb
