Born in Cold Spring-on-the-Hudson in 1941, and moved to Sidney in June 1945 when my father, Ray D. Sheldon was asked to head the Industrial Arts Department of Sidney Central High School. My mother, Emmabelle, taught kindergarten in Sidney Center and in Masonville. I attended school in Pleasant Street School, the Quonset huts in the projects, the new Pearl Street Elementary School and the High School on Pleasant Street, graduating with honors and with the Student Achievement Award for Activities in 1959 and matriculated immediately to Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y.

While at Hamilton College, I spent summers as Lifeguard and Director of the Sidney Municipal Swimming Pool. I was active in Intramural sports, college newspaper and was manager and student conductor of the Hamilton College Choir. Graduated from Hamilton College with honors in 1963 and entered the Masters of Arts program at Brown University, where I was also Conductor of the Brown Freshmen Glee Club and Assistant Conductor of the Brown University and Pembroke College Glee Clubs. Taught one year as visting instructor in music and Choir Director at Hamilton College, and spent one year as Assistant Manager of the Rochester Philharmonic before joining Columbia Artists.

Senior Vice President of Columbia Artists Management Inc., representing some of the world's preeminent artists and ensembles including the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Kirov Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, Vienna Symphony, Boys Choir of Harlem, The Beaux Arts Trio, soloists Anne-Sophie Mutter, Nigel Kennedy, Vladimir Spivakov, Kyung-Wha Chung, Mark O'Connor, Martha Argerich and Marilyn Horne.

Although most of my artists perform in North America, I travel throughout the world, particulary Europe and am now Asia, organizing tours in Japan, China, and a number of locations from Macau to Hong Kong to Manila to Singapore and Bombay.

I am now enjoying my 36th year at Columbia Artists Management in New York, my 25th year as Music Director of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Perth Amboy N.J. and my 22nd year as conductor of the Hamilton College Reunion Choirs. I have also conducted the University Glee Club of New York and the Orpheus Club of Philadelphia, and am a candidate for permanent conductor of the latter. I have the honor to be recently named to the Board of Directors of the Sidney Alumni Association

Parents: Ray D. (Oneonta Nursing Home) and Emmabelle (7 Ritton Street, Sidney).

Spouse: Eileen Yencik Sheldon (Smith College, '63 & Rutgers University '92) formerly Festival Assistant at Summerfest, Rutgers University and the Moscow Conservatory in America; Executive Director, New Jersey Chamber Music Society; Managing Director of the New Jersey State Opera; now dedicates her energies to being a judge for Women's Gymnastic Competitions in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern and Midwestern States.

Siblings: Stuart B. '58 now living in Dearborn, MI as an executive for Ford Motor Co. and Christina Rae '63 now living in Ilion, NY as a child psychology therapist for the State of New York.

Children: R. Douglas, Jr. & Michele Nath (Ian Douglas, 2 1/2); Kirsten Aline & Robert Savarese (Jason Robert, 2 1/2); Alexandra McQueen & Patrick Anan (Nicholas Patrick, 4 1/2 & Emily Rae, 1). Doug and Michele are lawyers in Hartford, CT; Kirsten is a mother at home; and Alix is Reservations and Revenue Manager for Sheraton Hotel, Comfort Inn and Hampton Inn hotels in Middlesex County, New Jersey.