Sheila A. Bolin, CEO for The Regal Swan® Foundation, Inc., passed away on Monday, November 11, 2024 after a long illness. Sheila, age 65, was recognized as one of the world's top conservationists for her work with swans by the prestigious Indianapolis Prize.

Sheila was born on November 3, 1959, in Orlando, Florida along with her identical twin sister Shirley to Evelyn L. and Marion Z. Bolin. She earned her bachelor's degree from Eastern Kentucky's Criminal Justice, Safety and Military Service Administration in 1981, while playing in the number four position for the Colonel's Women's Tennis Team. Upon graduation, Sheila became one of the first female sheriff deputies in the state of Florida.

After several years in the field, Sheila left to pursue her master's degree from Florida State University's College of Education in 1983. She then turned to her first love of tennis, where she became the Head Tennis Professional at Orange Lake Resort in Orlando, Florida. During her time as a tennis coach, Sheila gleaned information from her college years to begin Tennis With A Different Swing®, Inc. in 1988.

Using the modalities and functions from the game of tennis, she developed the program to help those with disabilities, specifically children. The program was instituted by various countries, and Sheila traveled to Mexico and the Bahamas to teach the program to educators, physical therapists and government leaders. She also traveled throughout the U.S. visiting hospitals, schools and physical therapy facilities. In 1992, she was given an international "Humanitarian Award" by the USPTR and was recognized as Florida State's "Alumna of the Year". Sheila was personally presented a Presidential "Daily Point of Light," award by former President George H.W. Bush for the program.

While continuing her tennis career, Sheila returned to the classroom as a defensive tactics instructor for the police academy, where she co-authored two law enforcement books.

Upon retiring from tennis, Sheila became the Swan Keeper and Wildlife Manager at Orange Lake. Using her background in law enforcement and a minor in biology, she became a state-licensed alligator trapper and relocator. Working with the swans, she soon discovered a lack of information and education for those taking care of swans. In 1999, Sheila co-founded The Regal Swan® Foundation, Inc. and became the organization's CEO.

This is where Sheila found her true calling. Forming a group of volunteer veterinarians, swan keepers, researchers, scientists and educators, the program was offered free of charge to assist those working with swans. During her tenure, the program's research team was the first to pioneer the use of vaccines for botulism and West Nile Virus in swans in 2001. Later the team would conduct DNA Sequencing of Rhinosporidium seebeeri in eye cysts found in humans. The team discovered that the same eye cysts affected swans.

Sheila and the team co-authored a compendium for swan conservation, "Swans of The World Habitats," published in 2012, detailing the care of both captive and wild swans all over the world. She also co-wrote several peer reviewed articles; and later co-developed a science and reading curriculum for ages K-12. In 2003, the team became the first to set hematologic and physiologic parameters for swans in captive settings.

In 2007, the team traveled to the UK to work with Her Majesty's Swan Marker, (now King's Marker) Mr. David Barber, Her Majesty's Swan Warden, (now King's Warden) Dr. Christopher M. Perrins, and Wendy Hermon, Treatment and Rescue Centre Co-Ordinator for Swan Support. The UK team and the Regal Swan team discovered a bacterium affecting the wild swans in the UK which attached to the swans' feathers causing them to turn pink, known as the "Pink Feather Syndrome". The two teams began a simple prophylactic course of action involving bathing the swans with Fairy Liquid Dish Soap (in the U.S., sister soap is Dawn), to remove the bacterium, thereby allowing the swans' feathers to return to normal. During the same visit, the Regal Swan team served as the visiting veterinary medical team for the annual Swan Upping at the Abbotsbury Swannery, in Abbotsbury, UK. The Abbotsbury is home to hundreds of wild Mute Swans.

In her later years, Sheila turned her efforts to stopping the killing of Mute Swans across the U.S. She became a leading Mute Swan advocate, consultant and spokesperson to educate the public on the importance of Mute Swans as a sentinel species. Her efforts saw inroads in New York and Michigan, but the killings continue as government agencies pursue an invasive species agenda. Sheila spoke extensively throughout the nation, including at the annual conferences for the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE), the Southeastern Regional Association of Teacher Educators (SRATE) and the Florida Association of Teacher Educators (FATE).

As CEO, Sheila and The Regal Swan® Foundation, Inc. received countless international and national awards for the swan conservation and education efforts undertaken. Sheila for the past 10 years was recognized as one of the world's leading swan conservationists. In 2013, the program became the recipient of the John Muir Non-Profit Conservation Award for the development of three swan medical devices for injured swans.

In 2012, the program was given a Telly Award for ABC's Television special highlighting The Regal Swan's work in the UK. World-renowned explorer Richard Wiese hosted the program. In 2010, Sheila was named "Scientist of the Month" by The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) based in Gland, Switzerland, one of the world's oldest conservation organizations. In 2009, the Jefferson Award for Outstanding Leadership in Volunteerism was awarded to Sheila, while the team also received both the U.S. Presidential "Daily Point of Light" award and the Florida Governor's "Point of Light" award for volunteerism in swan conservation.

Sheila was predeceased by her parents Evelyn L. and Marion Z. Bolin, and her brother James M. Bolin. She is survived by brothers Steve and Wayne Bolin, and identical twin sister Shirley A. Bolin, her nieces Ashley (Ardis), Katana Leasman and Kyndall Leasman and her nephews Steve Brook, Jeremy Brook and Elijah Bolin as well as her great nephew, Ayden Ardis.

Per Sheila's wishes, she was cremated with no funeral service. Sheila was a Protestant.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: The Regal Swan® Foundation, Inc. or a charity of your choice. To donate to The Regal Swan® Foundation, Inc. please go to: https://theregalswan.com