Sheila Baby

In 1962, Sheila Baby, a stunningly beautiful student at the University of Florida, lived in the small coastal town of Bonita Bay, Florida. Her real name was Sheila, but her father always called her “Sheila Baby,” and the name stuck. With her sparkling blue eyes, long dark hair, and charming smile, she always caught the admiring glances of her fellow students. She was a romantic, loved music and dancing, and enjoyed the carefree life of a typical American teenager. Like all girls of her time, she dreamed of her prince who would one day come and marry her—but so far, she hadn’t found him.

On Friday evenings, the local teens usually gathered at Sheila’s 5950, a BBQ fast food joint along US Highway 41, where they served Coke and juicy burgers. The students showed off their shiny cruisers, and the girls swooned over the university’s football stars. Life was carefree and full of fun.

One sunny morning, Sheila decided to grab a lemonade at the café right on the beach at Bonita Beach. As she sipped her refreshing drink and casually looked around, she noticed a young, athletic man—maybe around 20 years old—elegantly dressed, walking confidently through the café before sitting down at the table next to hers. “Maybe a tourist? A foreigner,” she thought. He had a sporty haircut, dark eyes, a stylish striped T-shirt, and Levi’s jeans. After ordering a drink, he reached into his bag, pulled out a book, and began to read.

He was so engrossed in his book that he didn’t notice Sheila watching him the whole time. Her eyes scanned the handsome stranger from head to toe with fascination. Then she noticed something intriguing—he was reading a book in German.

“Interesting book?” she asked kindly. Even she was surprised by her boldness, speaking so directly to a stranger, and worried she might blush. The young man looked up, startled, and smiled shyly.

“Oh yes, it’s one of my favorites. It’s about modern training methods in golf. My name is Tim, and I’m from Switzerland – from overseas!” he replied brightly. Judging by his accent, there was no doubt he was a foreigner.

Sheila smiled back warmly and introduced herself. The two quickly hit it off and ended up spending the whole day together at the beach. Tim told her about his homeland—its breathtaking mountains, idyllic lakes, and the charming little big city of Zurich where he lived. Sheila listened, fascinated, and felt right away that Tim was different from any other young man she had met. He was polite, modest, well-read, and his stories revealed he came from a good background. “A man with style—just what I always dreamed of,” she thought.

Tim’s stay in Florida—more specifically in Naples—was purely for athletic purposes: he was training hard to become a professional golfer on the European tour. As a dedicated athlete, he appreciated the group training sessions with a talented bunch of young golfers led by Jack M. They called themselves the More Better Golf Association. After intense training sessions, Tim, Jack, and the MBGA boys would occasionally indulge in massive steaks, fries, and cold beer at a local sports bar. They loved the relaxed vibe and the company of the charming bartenders. “We should have this back home, not just those pubs full of old men,” Tim often joked.

Over the following weeks, Sheila and Tim spent as much time together as his training allowed. They shared their worlds—Sheila showed Tim her favorite places in Florida, while Tim took her on mental journeys through his Swiss homeland. It soon became clear that what they had was far more than just friendship.

Sometimes they spent evenings at Sheila’s 5950, the town’s hottest hangout. Just the jukebox constantly playing hits by Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, and other teen idols was reason enough to hang out with friends there. Sheila loved dancing with Tim as they soaked in the magic of that golden era of rock and beats. It didn’t take long for everyone to notice that Sheila had found her prince. The girls gushed over her sweet romance, while the guys were less thrilled—especially that it was a foreigner who’d stolen the prettiest girl in town.

So inspired by his love for Sheila and the moments they shared, Tim wrote a song called “Sheila”, which he performed live one night at the diner in front of a full crowd. Tommy Roe, a popular singer who was preparing for a gig with his band that same evening, heard the song, rearranged it—and turned it into a massive hit. Local radio stations played the catchy tune nonstop, and record sales soon sent it soaring to the top of the U.S. charts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i-wfec5HGY

Sheila’s Diner gained even more fame, and the couple’s love story became a musical legend.

When Tim’s stay came to an end, saying goodbye was heartbreaking. They both knew their bond was something rare. Tears flowed as Tim flew home via New York. A challenging time began, made bearable only by their many letters. The hope of seeing each other again helped them endure the distance.

Finally, months later—just after Sheila had turned 18—she held her U.S. passport in her hand and made the decision to travel to faraway Switzerland. She’d find a job, learn the language, and most importantly, move in with Tim. From the moment she arrived, she knew she’d made the right choice. She fell even more deeply in love, and their carefree time together picked up right where it had left off.

A year filled with shared adventures, travels, and joyful moments followed—until one evening, Tim proposed to Sheila in the most romantic way: on the shores of Lake Zurich, as the sun slowly set behind the Alps. It was the beginning of a new life for Sheila, far from her Florida home—and she never once regretted it.

More than 50 years later, Sheila is still happily living in Zurich with her dream man, Tim. From time to time, they dance in their living room to “Sheila Baby”, crank the volume up, and smile as they remember their first encounter—back in Bonita Bay, Florida, at Sheila’s 5950 Rock & Roll Diner, during those unforgettable days.

©thomasvonriedt2025

Image by Dall-E