Central Florida native Blythe de Armas Sheahan said a meeting with Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts four years ago pulled her back from despair. De Armas Sheahan, a former Winter Park teacher, was six years into her own battle with breast cancer and was struggling with the toll it was taking on her family, including her three daughters, Maeve, Lily, and Frances (now 17, 15, and 11). She used Roberts’ courage and optimism to help light her own family’s journey.
In the face of adversity, de Armas Sheahan used her infectious enthusiasm, courage, and enduring humor to raise awareness and support fellow breast cancer patients in her community. In doing so, she lifted everyone up, from her children and family to those battling alongside her.
On November 3rd, de Armas Sheahan, 46, succumbed to breast cancer, nearly four years to the day after her meeting with Roberts.
To honor her legacy, strength, and the positive impact she had on her community, her Stetson University friends set up and initiated efforts to fund a scholarship in de Armas Sheahan’s name.
“A battle with cancer is one fought by entire families, bringing hardships to nearly every corner of life,” said fellow Stetson University alumna and friend Crystal Morris. “Education was so important to Blythe. She knew better than anyone the life-changing impact cancer has on children of those battling cancer. Unexpected financial and emotional burdens can completely derail plans. We created this scholarship to help alleviate those burdens and allow children to continue their education.”
Once fully endowed, the Blythe de Armas Sheahan Memorial Endowed Scholarship will be open to aspiring Stetson University students who are battling cancer or have an immediate family member battling cancer.
De Armas Sheahan graduated from Stetson University in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in education. A member of Alpha Xi Delta, she built a career as an educator while raising three children with husband Doug, who earned an MBA from Stetson. Her parents, Donna and Nestor de Armas, and sister, Paige Filartiga, are also alumni.
During this time of gratitude and giving back and in the spirit of Giving Tuesday on November 30th, those wanting to support families affected by cancer can donate to the Blythe de Armas Sheahan Memorial Endowed Scholarship fund on Stetson University’s webpage here.
