Rosemary Gilbride, 95, artist, equestrienne

Tuesday, 21 February 2012 18:58

Rosemary S. Gilbride, a Greenwich resident for over 40 years, who most recently resided at the Edgehill Retirement Community in Stamford, died at Edgehill on Friday evening, Feb. 17. She was 95.

Mrs. Gilbride was born Rosemary Theresa Shelare, one of eight children of Alphonse A. Shelare and Anna Tierney Shelare in Brooklyn, N.Y. She was predeceased on March 17, 2007 by her beloved husband, John T. Gilbride, the former chairman and chief executive officer of Todd Shipyards Corporation.

Mrs. Gilbride spent her early years in Brooklyn and in Northport, Long Island where she attended boarding schools. She graduated from Georgian Court College with a Bachelor's degree in 1938 where she won the prestigious Georgian Court Art Medal for Painting in Oil. She was an accomplished artist and equestrienne, having a life-long love of horses. While multi-talented and creatively gifted, Rosemary's priorities in life were her Catholic faith and her family, her loved ones said.

She had a successful marriage of 66 years and provided loving homes for her husband and three sons in Brooklyn, Palos Verdes, Calif., Manhattan and Greenwich. She is remembered for loving the water and spent many years cruising the waters of Long Island and Nantucket on a succession of vessels each named "Romy" by her husband.

She loved crossword puzzles, was well traveled, and is remembered as an exceptional hostess attending shipyard mutual aid balls to entertaining important business clients, political figures, and friends at home, nationwide and abroad, including attending numerous White House functions.

While she is also remembered for her beauty and eye for style, fashion, and design, "it was her inner beauty and grace that shone brightest," her family said. She had a strong faith in God, was a Dame of Malta, a founding parishioner of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Greenwich, and volunteered and was a Eucharistic Minister for several years at St. Camillus Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Stamford.

Mrs. Gilbride is survived by her sons, Frank and his wife Carol of Greenwich, John, Jr. and his wife, Victoria, of West Chester, Pa., and Gary and his wife, Angela, of Old Greenwich. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, eight, soon to be nine, great grandchildren, and two sisters, Nancy Wallace of Tequesta, Fla., and Dolly Walker of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 29, at the Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home, 31 Arch Street, Greenwich, from 4 to 8. A Mass of Christian burial is scheduled for 10 on Thursday, March 1, at St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, 469 North Street, Greenwich, to be followed by burial in St. Mary's Cemetery in Greenwich.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, 469 North Street, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830. To leave an online condolence, visit leopgallaghergreenwich.com

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