Shela touched the lives of so many through her passion, knowledge, mentorship, kindness, and dedication. She so often played the role of connector and information‑sharer, and like so many others, I already feel the gap she leaves in the CWP network and projects. I served with her on the Cienega Watershed Partnership board (which she co‑founded) for 10 years as we worked to protect an amazing creek, its history, and its future.

Shela was both a mentor and a friend to me. I loved the way she lit up when I brought bluegrass bands to CWP events, and I will always remember how deeply she appreciated everyone’s diverse and unique contributions - even the more quiet and artistic approaches. She encouraged me — and so many others — to grow the community’s work in our own ways. Her characteristic persistence, vision, and organizational skill shaped countless projects, and without her, the CWP would not have become what it is today.

I miss her.  May we keep her legacy alive in our hearts.