John P. Shea

John P. Shea, 72, beloved husband of 45 years of Harriet Palmer Shea of West Hartford passed away peacefully on August 12, 2008 at his home. Born in Hartford on March 4, 1936 the son of James P. and Honora Donahue Shea. He was a resident of West Hartford for the past 42 years. John attended St. Thomas Seminary and then graduated from St. Mary's College in Baltimore, MD. He received his MED from Fairfield University and a CAGS 6th year certificate in education from the University of Hartford. In 1962 he taught English and Latin in New Britain, CT and then in 1965 began his career in Hartford as a teacher at Hartford Public High School. He was appointed Vice Principal of H. P. H. S. in 1967 to 1969 and then was made Assistant Director of Secondary Education in Hartford. From 1971 to 1973, he served as Director of Secondary Education, and then was appointed Assistant Superintendent of Hartford Public Schools and remained in this position until his retirement in 1994. During the 1970's, he also held interim positions as Acting Principal at Bulkeley High School and Acting Superintendent of Hartford Public Schools. John belonged to the Phi Delta Kappa, AASA and HASA organizations while he worked as an educator in Hartford. He was a communicant of St. Mark the Evangelist Church in West Hartford, and St. Agnes in Niantic. Since his retirement he has served on the Trust House Board of Trustees and the Black Point Beach Club Board of Directors. He is survived by his children Julie S. Holt and her husband Michael, and John P. Shea Jr. and his wife Ames and his grandchildren, Madeline and Daniel Shea and Sara Holt. He also leaves his sisters, Jean and Geraldine Shea, his sisters-in-law Katherine Shea and Dorothy Palmer, and a brother-in-law, David Loughlin and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, James B. Shea, a nephew Kevin M. Shea, and a sister-in-law Joyce P. Loughlin. The family would like to thank all of his caring friends for their constant support, concern, and prayers over the past two years. Funeral services will be Saturday at 9:30 am from the Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave. West Hartford, with the celebration of a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. in the Church of St. Mark the Evangelist 467 Quaker Lane West Hartford. Burial will follow in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Friends and family may call from 4-7 p.m. Friday at the Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society P.O. Box 22718 Oklahoma City, OK 73123 for Pancreatic Cancer Research

John P. Shea

March 4, 1936 - August 12, 2008