From Operating Table to Yankee Bat Girl, the ‘Never-Give-In’ Story of Elliman’s Shelly Bleier

When hospital staff at New York Presbyterian rolled Shelly Bleier into the operating room last year to perform a double mastectomy she was never scared, she said, because she had two guardian angels on either shoulder; her late father on one and her departed cat on the other. “I told the doctors, ’There’s three of us in here.’ They must have thought I was crazy.” Crazy? Doubtful. Memorable? Definitely. So memorable in fact that when it came time for the hospital staff to choose a single patient from their roster to join the New York Yankees as their Honorary Bat Girl this season, only one name came to mind. Elliman Insider caught up with Shelly to find out how she uses positivity as motivation, her advice on overcoming adversity and what it was like to meet New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone. Elliman Insider: Tell us a little about your journey the last year and how you are feeling now. Shelly Bleier: Being told you have breast cancer and that the one I had was very rare with a difficult prognosis, is a shock to your system, both physical and mental. Being told you have to have a double mastectomy, chemotherapy AND radiation, was enough to land me on Mars. So I had a decision to make: To do what I had to do—or die! Not only did I make the decision to live, but decided that I would handle this journey with grace, dignity, positivity and a sense of humor. After my surgery, partial reconstruction and chemotherapy, I found out I had thyroid cancer. WHAT!!! So again, I did what I had to do. Removed the thyroid, finished reconstruction and now in the final phase of radiation. I’m kicking a**!!!!!! EI: You were formerly in fashion. When did you know that real estate was your calling? How did you make the switch? SB: I always loved architecture and going up and down the streets of the city. In 1999 when NAFTA became law, I was a domestic vendor, and knew we were not going to move our production to Mexico. I said to myself, “It’s time to sell what I really love.” So I closed my business, took off the year, got my real estate license, was scared to death and the rest is history. EI: What was it like to meet Yankee manager Aaron Boone? SB: Unfortunately, due to Covid 19, I met Aaron via a Zoom meeting. He is an absolute sweetheart!! I was chosen by New York PresbyterianWeill Cornell Hospital and their affiliation with MLB and the Yankees to represent Breast Cancer Awareness for 2021. Thinking of how many patients they had to choose from, I was so honored that I was their choice.    EI: What motivates you? SB: Being able to see the beauty in things. Be it a rainy day or a sunny day, there is beauty in each day. I have no family, I am really “alone” in the world, but the love and support of my friends, my love of animals and music, being able to laugh and cry and feel; positivity motivates me as well. EI: Why do you call yourself an “Elliman Girl”? SB: WHY? Because Douglas Elliman is my FAMILY! EI: You live at The Manhattan House. Is there a story behind that? SB: It’s too long to go into, but the crux of the story is that I passed the building in the mid 70s when I was living in New Jersey. I said to myself, “What a building—I’m going to live here one day.” Little did I know the waitlist was so long. It took me 14 years to get into the building and I’ve been here 26 years now. EI: Tell us a little about the building. SB: It is unique in so many ways. It takes up a full square city block. There are 5 Towers, 2 porte de cocheres, and the largest private garden in the city next to Gramercy Park. The building converted to condo in 2007. We have the most amazing staff, the building and garden are kept pristine and I kind of feel like the “mama” of the building. There is nothing the staff would not do for me. I love them all. This is home! EI: It’s been a tough year for many. Do you have any advice for overcoming adversity? SB: There is one word that takes me through my adversities (and I have had many): POSITIVITY!!! And for me, belief in my “Higher Power,” whoever he or she may be. EI: Finally, when will we see you on the field at Yankee Stadium as Bat Girl? SB: Stay tuned! The schedule’s a little scrambled but hopefully in July! Contact Shelly for all your real estate needs today.