Dr. Sheila Mitchell Cohen, 79, of Cranford NJ, died of pulmonary complications on Friday May 12, 2017 with her son at her side. Born in Flint, MI on September 4, 1937, she was the daughter of Bridie and Edna Mitchell of Flint, MI. She attended Flint public schools and was the salutatorian of her Northern High School class of 1955. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from University of Michigan, Flint College in 1959 with High Distinction and was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi Honorary Sorority. Sheila graduated from Florida State University, Tallahassee FL in 1969 with a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry working with Dr. Merle Thomas Emerson, Ph.D. From 1969 through 1977, Sheila was an Assistant Professor of Biological Chemistry at the University of Illinois, Chicago. From 1977 through 1980 she was a post-doctoral researcher in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) at Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill NJ working with Dr. Robert Shulman, Ph.D. From 1980 to 2001, Sheila was Senior Research Scientist in the Departments of Biophysics and Drug Metabolism at Merck and Co. with a distinguished series of publications and patents. Over her more than thirty-year career, she pioneered use of NMR to probe soft tissue in living animals to better elucidate site and mechanism of action of therapeutics in different diseases, especially prostate cancer and diabetes. A resident of Cranford NJ since 1980, Sheila will always be remembered by her family, colleagues, and friends for her love of cycling trips, her profound love of music and her love of and dedication to her family. Sheila was a Guild Member of The Metropolitan Opera, New York, NY and rarely missed a performance over the past two decades. Sheila is survived by her only child, Jeffrey Elton, of Concord, MA, his wife Anne, grandchildren Eva and Owen, and six loving nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be held on Friday May 19th from 5 to 7 pm in the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord, MA. Her life will be celebrated on Saturday May 20th in a private outdoor ceremony at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord. "The Sheila Cohen Fund for Women in STEM at the University of Chicago" is being established to honor Sheila and her legacy. Gifts in my mother's memory can be directed to The University of Chicago, Attn: Ms. Lauren Walker, Development Office, 5235 South Harper Court, Chicago, Illinois 60615. The on-line address is Give.uchicago.edu, selecting "College Odyssey Internship Challenge," noting in the 'Special Instruction Comments' "Allocate to the Sheila Cohen Fund for Women in STEM at the University of Chicago." For questions call, 773-702-6097 or e-mail davisl@uchicago.edu Arrangements are under the care of the Dee Funeral Home of Concord.