I was on the phone this afternoon with Bill Lublin, my friend, confidant, and part time super hero, when he came home to find his beautiful wife Sheila had passed away. I’ve heard that passionate cry once before in my life as Bill asked to call me back, and I prayed that I was just paranoid, but I was not. According to medical professionals at the scene, they believe she died of an aneurysm or embolism.
No one deserves this type of shock and tradgedy, nor the agony of attempting CPR on someone you love and cherish as much as Bill cherished Shelia- this is a memory I pray Bill can forget.
Sheila attended Connect in SF with Bill where many of us met her for the first time, however, if you’ve spent any time with Bill at all, you know they come as a pair as he describes in his own words…
Sheila was the love of my life. For 34 years we were together everyday. We raised our son together, struggled together through all of the recessions and tough times while we built the business together. We shared good times and tougher times, and almost every minute I did not spend working I spent with her. She was my best friend, my confidant, my lover, my everything, and I feel completely lost without her.
Sheila, as we came to learn, fought other things such as Lupus Disease, and you knew after 30 seconds that she was as tough as she was fragile. She was a professional, handled herself with grace, and you immediately knew who really ran things. Her sense of style, her humor, and her sweet laugh made you instantly understand why Bill loved her, although we wondered what she saw in Bill- she set the bar, that was obvious.
We’ve sat here today very patiently and quietly as Bill and his family attempt to come to terms with such a tradgedy to share this story, and in every minute since, we’ve reflected on just how important family is to our sanity, security, and our all around well-being. I’ll share with you Bill’s last words in his email as I close…
I hope you guys both live to be healthy, a hundred and ten, and die at the same second so you are never without each other.
Again, Bill worrying about us, when it is us who worry and pray for him.
I will update here at Ag with news of the arrangements for the funeral, and family wishes as we get them. Currently Bill is resting at home with his brother-in-law Benn, as his family will begin arriving tomorrow.
We ask at this time for everyone to pray for Bill and Sheila and we send the Lublins our love.
**UPDATE** funeral arrangements and details can be found by clicking here.
