John Jeremiah Shea

John Jeremiah Shea “Jack” died peacefully, late in the evening of September 10, 2020. Born on September 14, 1938 in Kansas City, MO, he was the eldest of three beloved sons of the late John “Jack” Jeremiah Shea and Viola Briles Shea. He was perhaps the fourth in his family to be so named. Jack was also predeceased by his brother Patrick Vincent Shea and infant son, Bernard Joseph Shea, and Betsy’s parents, James P. and Mary V. Blake, also of Kansas City.      

He was the much loved and profoundly missed husband of Elizabeth Holland Blake Shea “Betsy”, and the cherished father of Peggy (Joe Lindsley), Charlotte, NC; Julia (Steve Gunderson MD.), Cincinnati, OH; Jack (Connie Broesti), Sheffield Village, OH; and Chris (Lisa), Mission, KS.     

He was Pop to his fourteen grandchildren, adored by all, their teacher, friend and encourager of curiosity: Peggy and Joe’s Joe Jr., John, Laura (Nick), Kat and Patrick; Julia and Steve’s Katelyn (Rickey), Erik, Evan, Antonette, Kelly (Jesse); Jack’s Jack; and Chris and Lisa’s Christopher, Amy, and Brendan. He was Great Pop to Rickey, Wyatt and Scarlett.      

Jack is also survived by his brother, James Francis (Jan), Kansas City, MO, and his dear Uncle Dan “Durd” O’Shea of Tuosist and Kenmare, Ireland, and wonderful, Liam and Teresa Heaney of Dublin, Ireland. He cherished his childhood family the Houlehans, the McInerneys and the Sullivans. He was brother-in-law to J.G. ‘Bud” (Sharon) Blake of Overland Park, KS and Martha Blake Rose (the late MSG Robert Morris Rose) of Tampa, FL. Uncle to David, Jimmy and Brian Shea, Matt and Micheal Blake, Kevin Rose, Amy Blake Neusel and Kimberly Rose Somers.

Jack was a gentleman and a scholar, earning his undergraduate degree from Rockhurst College (now University), and received his BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Detroit in 1961. Jack was privileged to be one of the initial participants in the new Jesuit co-op work study program in 1958.    

Upon graduation, from the University of Detroit, Jack and Betsy, and infant daughters Peggy and Julia, returned to Kansas City, and Jack began his post-graduate career with the AEC.

Jack began his career in glass at Gustin-Bacon Certain-Teed Saint Gobian’s E-Glass fiberglass plant in Kansas City, where he served as a Senior Project Engineer, Superintendent of Furnace and Melting Technology, and Assistant Plant Manager.

In 1971, George Seifried, President of Toledo Engineering, recruited Jack as a Project Engineer. From (1980-1987) Jack was TECO’s Manager of Furnace Design, then Technical Director (1987-1994), then Vice President and Technical Director (1994-to retiring in 2015).

Jack was responsible for coordinating, monitoring and advancing the Company’s technical efforts. He was also involved in fuel-fired and electric melting furnace designs, as well as development of new process concepts for optimizing furnace design parameters and furnace performance. During Jack’s tenure at TECO, he pioneered the company’s efforts in glass furnace modeling and validated design parameters with operational information.

A glass industry associate and good friend of Jack’s, Don Tullman, of Guardian Industries, communicated to Jack, the following:

“I often wondered where Guardian would have been without TECO and people like yourself. I also actually talked often to Russ Ebeid about you and told him what a valuable asset and co-worker you would be in Guardian. Russ always said ‘We need Jack right where he’s at so that we can continue to build plants and grow.’” Priceless!

In his time at TECO and in Toledo, Jack appreciated the many friendships and wonderful organizations that he and Betsy became a part of.

Through the years, Jack supported and participated in the Association of Two Toledos and The Toledo Opera and The Ability Center Of Greater Toledo.

Jack served as the first Chairman of the Board for Bethany House, a home for abused women and children, in support of the founder, Sister Rose Therese Lange, OSF.

Jack and Betsy’s friendships with the families of Lewis and Joyce Alderman, and Elaine and Ernie Busse, and Bruce and Marina Lung, the late Bob and the late Yvonne Cothern, the late Bob and the late Ann Galloway, Joe and Shirley Gerdenich, Jim and Judy Roberts, Titi and the late Soterios Kakissis, Sophie and Deborah Paterakis, Rosalie and the late Hal Shafer, Panos and the wonderful late Susie Doukides, who were all wonderful fellow travelers. And, to Linde Webb, Suze Kasap, and Bill Giha for their perfect guidance!

Jack was a man of unshakable faith and character, so good to so many. Brilliant and funny...his family could go on and on.

Jack Shea loved the world around him, seen and unseen, all animals and creatures, and the world to come.

Jack and Betsy were parishioners of St. Joseph, Toledo, where Jack’s cherished Latin Requiem High Mass was offered Saturday September 19, 2020 by their pastor Father David Kidd.

In the recent difficult years, it is so very important that our family acknowledge, on Jack’s behalf, Emmett Boyle, MD. David Paolini, MD and Mahdi Doumet, MD, who both saved Jack’s life following a cardiovascular mishap. Jack’s brilliant personal physician, Lori Wright, MD and his wonderful Care Nurse, Marilyn Antonini, MSED, BSN, RN. And the associates, Julie and Holli. Jack’s Promedica physical therapist, Tom Clement, and Essential Myofascial Therapies’ Cindy Hodgston and Enoch Moore. ​​Prem Malhotra and his on-call barber Ron Shafer, were all priceless! The loyalty of Eileen Pedro Durham, Jesse Johnson, Tom Stearns, Kathy Drees, and Jenifer Rizzi were second to none! These good and kind people gave us friendship and comfort.

As the days became more difficult, the teams from Sylvania Fire Station # 3 became a great solace to Jack. They were always calm and reassuring and protective as they assisted Jack.

As the final days approached, the Flower Hospital ICU 4th Floor nurses and physicians assisted all of us with gentle and knowing care, helping lead us through this overwhelming, sad part of our families journey. And, in the late afternoon of September 10th, 2020, Jack and our family were comforted by Ebeid Hospice’s pastoral setting and the strong and compassionate guides Christina and Kathy, and their staff. George Reeb and assistants Joyce and Kathryn of Sylvania’s REEB Funeral Home, provided strong and true compassion, and reassuring guidance in the days following Jack’s passing. Love and gratitude to Labib Hijar and Miriam and Latifa of The Beirut (Jack’s favorite) for the feast they prepared for our family and friends following Jack’s Mass.

Each and every one of these friends will NEVER know the depth of Jack’s family’s gratitude.

Thank you to each and everyone of you for enhancing our wonderful lives.

Given the intense coronavirus restrictions at the time of Jack’s final hospitalization, only one family member was permitted to be with him. All twenty four family members agreed that Peggy Shea Lindsley at Jack’s bedside, and son-in-law Dr. Steven Gunderson’s telecommunications with Peggy and the ICU caregivers, were the perfect team in protection of JACK SHEA. Their protection is precisely what he would have done for any and all of us!

We love you forever Pop!

À bientôt!             

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