Richard E. Shea

Richard Shea passed away on December 30, 2009 after a courageous three year battle with cancer.He was born to Ernest and Virginia Shea on February 26, 1941. A 1959 graduate of Woodward High School, he earned a Masters Degree in Education and taught in the Toledo Public School System while he earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence in Law. Richard practiced law in North Carolina until 1980 when he moved back to Toledo and began teaching Astronomy and Physics at Rogers High School. During his teaching career in the Toledo Public School system, Richard earned numerous awards including the Eisenhower award, the Jerry Acker Outstanding Teacher award (1989 - 1990), the Northwest Ohio Science Teacher of the Year, and the Rogers Mr. Ram Award. Richard, his wife, and his students created hour long traveling astronomy programs which they presented to the Toledo area grade schools. He also worked at Thackerays Book Store. He retired in 2005. Richard was a beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, and uncle. Surviving are his beautiful, loving wife and soul mate; Jone, his children: Sandy Eagle, Lisa Shea, and Trisha Eagle; and his grandchildren: Mandy Eagle-Farrar and Ryan Thompson, his sister Sally (Chuck) Zunk, and nephews Jeremy and Kyle Zunk (Emily Parcell).Jeremy Zunk very graciously created a beautiful end-of-life DVD to help his Uncle Richard have a peaceful passing from this life into heaven. We are so grateful for his kind help.Richard was a really sweet, kindhearted and forgiving man. He was a kind and gentle soul who cared greatly for the environment and animal welfare. He genuinely cared about people. Richard collected donations and delivered them to the Cherry Street Mission because it broke his heart to think of anyone being hungry and homeless. He supported several displaced Tibetans in India. He supported the United Poultry Concerns, the Humane Society, and PETA. Richard literally never hurt a fly; any and all invading insects were gently removed from the house alive, given a prayer, and placed outside. He once stood out in a rainstorm holding an umbrella over a newly hatched Monarch butterfly until Jone could build a permanent shelter for the butterfly. Richard was such an animal lover that he considered his two rescued pet ferrets, Joeina and Ernie, as his children. He admired Bert Parks for funding a college course on Animal Rights. Richard had a unique sense of humor. He loved to approach people who vaguely resembled celebrities and ask for their autographs. Once he asked his daughter, Sandy, to water the fake Christmas tree. Even during his final hours at the Hospice House, when given a reality check, he stated that his name was “Charles”. When Sandy looked at him with concern, he looked straight at her and said “Gotcha”.The family is so grateful to all the wonderful and kindhearted people who helped Richard during this difficult time. We cherish the new-found friends at the Victory Center: Lyn, Helga, Milan, Veronica, Tom, Connie, Penny, Kelly, Ann, and Kathy. The family also thanks the loving and supporting people at the Toledo Clinic: Dr. Kasunic, Sue Ellen, Kathy, Courtney, Carol Emch, Julie, Deb, Dana, Kim and Rene. The family is also so grateful for the kind people at the University of Michigan Hospital because they made both Jone and Richard feel welcome and cared for. The huge hospital complex employs over 10,000 people and everyone there was kind and compassionate. Their oncology clinic welcomed family members and treated them with respect and equality. They treated the cancer patients with such love that everyone felt like a huge family.We thank the staff of the Perrysburg Hospice House for making Richards final hours peaceful. We thank John, Bonnie, Thelma, Terry, and the numerous other staff who comforted and eased his pain.”Richard was one of the kindest, most gentle souls I have ever met. We loved each other more than our own silly egos. So, when differences arose; one or both of us would remember our love and realize that the happiness of the other was more important. This willingness to set aside ego for the welfare of each other helped us to mature and grow more deeply in love. As our love grew and our egos matured; we were able to become closer to Jesus through loving compassion to all. I am extremely blessed to have known this wonderful man.” Jone Eagle.In lieu of flowers, it was Richards request that memorials be made to the Victory Center [5532 W. Central Ave., Suite B, Toledo. OH 43615, (phone number is 419-531-7600)] and/or the Cherry Street Mission [105 17th Street, Toledo, Ohio 43604 (phone number is 419-242-5141)]. Richard Shea passed away on December 30, 2009 after a courageous three year battle with cancer.He was born to Ernest and Virginia Shea on February 26, 1941. A 1959 graduate of Woodward High School, he earned a Masters Degree in Education and taught in the Toledo Public School System while he earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence in Law. Richard practiced law in North Carolina until 1980 when he moved back to Toledo and began teaching Astronomy and Physics at Rogers High School. During his teaching career in the Toledo Public School system, Richard earned numerous awards including the Eisenhower award, the Jerry Acker Outstanding Teacher award (1989 - 1990), the Northwest Ohio Science Teacher of the Year, and the Rogers Mr. Ram Award. Richard, his wife, and his students created hour long traveling astronomy programs which they presented to the Toledo area grade schools. He also worked at Thackerays Book Store. He retired in 2005. Richard was a beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, and uncle. Surviving are his beautiful, loving wife and soul mate; Jone, his children: Sandy Eagle, Lisa Shea, and Trisha Eagle; and his grandchildren: Mandy Eagle-Farrar and Ryan Thompson, his sister Sally (Chuck) Zunk, and nephews Jeremy and Kyle Zunk (Emily Parcell).Jeremy Zunk very graciously created a beautiful end-of-life DVD to help his Uncle Richard have a peaceful passing from this life into heaven. We are so grateful for his kind help.Richard was a really sweet, kindhearted and forgiving man. He was a kind and gentle soul who cared greatly for the environment and animal welfare. He genuinely cared about people. Richard collected donations and delivered them to the Cherry Street Mission because it broke his heart to think of anyone being hungry and homeless. He supported several displaced Tibetans in India. He supported the United Poultry Concerns, the Humane Society, and PETA. Richard literally never hurt a fly; any and all invading insects were gently removed from the house alive, given a prayer, and placed outside. He once stood out in a rainstorm holding an umbrella over a newly hatched Monarch butterfly until Jone could build a permanent shelter for the butterfly. Richard was such an animal lover that he considered his two rescued pet ferrets, Joeina and Ernie, as his children. He admired Bert Parks for funding a college course on Animal Rights. Richard had a unique sense of humor. He loved to approach people who vaguely resembled celebrities and ask for their autographs. Once he asked his daughter, Sandy, to water the fake Christmas tree. Even during his final hours at the Hospice House, when given a reality check, he stated that his name was “Charles”. When Sandy looked at him with concern, he looked straight at her and said “Gotcha”.The family is so grateful to all the wonderful and kindhearted people who helped Richard during this difficult time. We cherish the new-found friends at the Victory Center: Lyn, Helga, Milan, Veronica, Tom, Connie, Penny, Kelly, Ann, and Kathy. The family also thanks the loving and supporting people at the Toledo Clinic: Dr. Kasunic, Sue Ellen, Kathy, Courtney, Carol Emch, Julie, Deb, Dana, Kim and Rene. The family is also so grateful for the kind people at the University of Michigan Hospital because they made both Jone and Richard feel welcome and cared for. The huge hospital complex employs over 10,000 people and everyone there was kind and compassionate. Their oncology clinic welcomed family members and treated them with respect and equality. They treated the cancer patients with such love that everyone felt like a huge family.We thank the staff of the Perrysburg Hospice House for making Richards final hours peaceful. We thank John, Bonnie, Thelma, Terry, and the numerous other staff who comforted and eased his pain.”Richard was one of the kindest, most gentle souls I have ever met. We loved each other more than our own silly egos. So, when differences arose; one or both of us would remember our love and realize that the happiness of the other was more important. This willingness to set aside ego for the welfare of each other helped us to mature and grow more deeply in love. As our love grew and our egos matured; we were able to become closer to Jesus through loving compassion to all. I am extremely blessed to have known this wonderful man.” Jone Eagle.In lieu of flowers, it was Richards request that memorials be made to the Victory Center [5532 W. Central Ave., Suite B, Toledo. OH 43615, (phone number is 419-531-7600)] and/or the Cherry Street Mission [105 17th Street, Toledo, Ohio 43604 (phone number is 419-242-5141)].