Sheila Havens Ryle

“Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.”
       – William Shakespeare

Obituary

The final curtain has fallen on a truly rare and brilliant star. Sheila Havens Ryle, 70, of Temecula, CA, left us peacefully on March 26th – after an almost 9 year battle with metastatic breast cancer – surrounded by family, love, and music. She lived a life full of love, with a radiant smile and sparkling blue eyes that lit up any room, and was a giant proponent of the arts. Her spontaneous and audacious nature, infectious joyous spirit, and love of life moved everyone who knew her.

Though born in San Jose, CA, Sheila grew up in Sacramento where she graduated El Camino High School in 1973. She earned both her Bachelors degree in music studies and Masters in conducting at Occidental College in Eagle Rock, CA. She made her mark achieving her goal since 7th grade of becoming a choir teacher just like her mentor, Ms. Bennet. She began her career in 1978 at Orville Wright Junior High in Westchester, CA, where she met her future husband. She later taught at San Pedro High School, branching out into the fields of English, humanitas, and drama producing dozens of musicals. Eventually moving to San Pedro in 1990, it was there where she began her lifelong love of Shakespeare. Because her students had won more drama competitions than any other school in the state, the local chapter of the English Speaking Union awarded her its first ever fellowship to study Shakespeare for 3 weeks in his birthplace of Stratford-upon-Avon. In 1992, she earned the Outstanding Young Teacher of the Year award. She later served as a mentor-teacher, and often played the role of counselor for her at-risk students with empathy and compassion.

After teaching in the Los Angeles Unified School District for 23 years, she and her family moved to Temecula, CA where she taught for two years at Chaparral High School and once again led award-winning music programs. A member of the Temecula Valley Arts Council, she served as its president for one term. After unexpected events beyond her control ended her teaching career, Sheila reinvented herself and emerged with a bold new project in 2005 when she founded Shakespeare in the Vines (SITV). As Artistic Director, she produced live outdoor Shakespeare plays at various wineries in the Temecula Valley, which last year celebrated its 20th season. A few years later she founded the non-profit group Havens for the Arts, under which SITV operates. As a gifted artist, she created beautiful stained glass works, jewelry, and knitted blankets which she gifted to family and close friends. She loved spending time tending to her many roses surrounding her home. For the last 10 years, Sheila returned to work as a vocal music teacher and music director at the JDS Academy in Temecula, where she continued to be an influential force. As an educator, director, producer, and fierce friend, Sheila has touched hundreds of lives and changed them in not-so-subtle ways. The world was truly made a better place due to her presence.

Sheila is survived by her husband of 38 years, Geoffrey Ryle; her children, daughter Shanti and son Devon; and her dog Bijou. In lieu of flowers, Sheila’s family encourages you to please consider making a donation in her name to either Shakespeare In The Vines and/or Hospice of the Valleys. A public celebration of her life is being planned for July 25th at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater.

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