Man of Avon: Sheldon Roth '54
Sheldon Robert Roth aka 'Noodles', 86, longtime resident of Scottsdale, Arizona passed away on the 18th of November in his home, surrounded by his loving family.
Sheldon was born on February 15, 1936, in Hartford, Connecticut, to Samuel and Fannye Roth. He graduated from Avon Old Farms Prep School in CT and went on to study business management at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts where he graduated in 1958.
Sheldon, who lovingly referred to himself as “Noodles” moved to Washington, D.C. after college, and met his wife Joan Smelkinson and they were married on April 19, 1959, and lived in Baltimore, Maryland where they raised 3 boys: Joseph, Robert and Jonathan. Sheldon went to work for Joan’s fathers’ business Smelkinson Brothers Corporation and was instrumental in the success of the company becoming the largest Institutional Foodservice Wholesaler in the Baltimore/Washington market. Sheldon was a pioneer in the industry and helped create what is known today as a Full Line Foodservice Wholesaler and as a result was named by ID Institutional Distribution) Magazine as one of the Top 25 people who shaped the industry to what it is today. The business was sold to CFS Continental in 1985 and was subsequently purchased by Sysco Foodservice (the largest foodservice wholesaler in the nation). Sysco recognized Sheldon’s leadership and asked him to become resident of their Phoenix, Arizona operation in 1987, to help expand and grow their southwest region. Sheldon and Joan moved to Scottsdale, Arizona in 1987 and Sheldon eventually retired from Sysco in 1989 and for several years continued to do private consulting in the food service industry.
Sheldon was involved in many civic and philanthropic causes including being appointed as a Magistrate Judge for the City of Baltimore, President of Golden Eagle Square and Compass Club of Maryland, President and Board Chairman of Jewish Convalescent and Nursing Home of Baltimore, Chairman of Israel Bonds of Phoenix, Board Member and Campaign Chairman of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix and was he a lifetime Board Member of Congregation Beth Israel of Scottsdale.
Upon Joan’s passing in 2002, Sheldon married Maddy Shapiro in 2003, and they were married for 19 years until Maddy’s untimely passing in March 2021. Maddy and Sheldon lived in Scottsdale, Pinetop, Payson and Fountain Hills, Arizona. Sheldon was a bigger than life character, who loved telling a good joke, had a passion for his family, golf, card games, food & wine, travel, and a good cigar. Noodles enjoyed his retirement to the fullest and was fortunate to travel the world, spend time with his loving family and he liked to joke that he only played golf on days that ended in Y.
Sheldon is survived by his three children; Joe (Amy), Bob (Susie) and Jonathan (Lori) as well as nine grandchildren; Sami-Jo (Doug), Courtney, Spencer, Allison, Megan, Harrison, Jessica, Ben and Joelle and his step children; Jason (Natasha) and Jenny (Angela).
Funeral Services will be held graveside at Mt Sinai Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. (24210 N 68th St, Phoenix, AZ 85054) on Tuesday, November 22. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a memorial donation be made to Congregation Beth Israel of Scottsdale, Sheldon “Noodles” Roth Memorial Fund.