Esq. 1939-2022
Barbara Ann Sinnott Shea, age 82, died peacefully in Greenwich, CT on September 23, 2022. Barbara grew up in Larchmont, NY and attended the Ursuline School. In 1961, she graduated cum laude from Trinity Washington University in Washington, D.C. with a degree in English.
She married Thomas Gibson Shea and raised four children in Greenwich, CT where she actively volunteered with the Junior League, Greenwich Senior Center and the Julian Curtiss school PTA. In 1980, she earned a Master of Arts in Counseling from Fairfield University, followed by a Juris Doctor degree (magna cum laude) from Quinnipiac University, School of Law in 1985. She worked as a law clerk for the Connecticut Superior Court and as well as the United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
Upon passing the Bar exam, Barbara was hired by the New York City firm of White and Case where she worked for 5 years as a Litigation Associate before opening her own successful law practice in Rowayton, CT. She remained in private practice for decades. Throughout her law career, she developed several copyrighted programs designed to assist her clients in the legal processes such as Partners-In-Law© and Court Coach©Legal Enterprise. She authored several legal publications and Law Review articles and was a noted speaker on the subjects of Elder Law and Matrimonial Law throughout Connecticut.
Barbara was a voracious reader, loved flowers, all things French, art and the beach. But above all else, she loved her family and close friends.
Barbara is survived by her four devoted children Cara Shea Kohler (Steve), Sally Shea (Mike), Thomas Shea, Jr. (Carrie) and Cynthia Shea, and her ten cherished grandchildren: Christopher, Peter and Margot Kohler, Reily, Shea, and Tyce Christian, Lilly and Gib Shea and Amelia and Tommy Ramirez. She was affectionately known as “Babette” by her grandchildren. She is also survived by her loyal siblings Peter Sinnott III, Karen Sinnott and Maura Sinnott Allen, as well as many nieces and nephews, all of whom were very special to her. She is predeceased by her parents Peter Sinnott, Jr. and Janice Sinnott O’Neal as well as her beloved twin sister Ann Fleming.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Greenwich Emergency Medical Service (GEMS) at greenwichems.org. A service will be held at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, NY on Friday, October 7 at 1 PM.
