Eleanor Bernert Sheldon ’40, of New York, N.Y., died May 8 with her sons by her side. She was 101. Eleanor was a dedicated member of the Colby-Sawyer community and an integral part of the college’s board of trustees from 1977–85. During her time on the board, Eleanor served on the board organization, development and finance committees, vice chaired the executive committee and was a member of the investment subcommittee.

Eleanor was a sociologist and leading figure in the establishment of the field of social indicators and served as the first woman president of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC). She was also a fellow of the American Statistical Association and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. After her tenure as president of the SSRC concluded, Eleanor served as the first woman member on the boards of several major corporations, including the Mobil Corporation, Citicorp, Citibank, Heinz and Equitable Life.

Eleanor credited Colby-Sawyer as having been a major influence on her personal and professional path.