| Graduation Year | Class of 1950 |
| Date of Passing | Oct 19, 2012 |
| About | (Posted by his son Mike): Francis P. Shea, Jr. July 19, 1932-Oct. 19, 2012 Holyoke High School Class of 1950 Fran Shea passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday Oct. 19 in Cape Coral, FL. He was 80. Fran was born the first of 4 children to Francis P. Shea and Miriam (Clarke) Shea of Holyoke. Brothers Bill and Jim, and sister Mim would follow subsequently. Working part time while attending Holyoke High School, Fran began his career in radio broadcasting. Graduating in 1950, Fran continued his radio broadcast career with Armed Forces Radio (Far East Network) based in Tokyo while serving with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. After his military service, he met Jean Ann Grady while she was a student at Westfield State College. She encouraged him to use his GI Bill benefits to continue his education. While working as a news & sports announcer at radio station WTAG in Worcester, he completed his teaching degree at Worcester State College. Fran and Jean were married in 1963, joined by son Mike in 1965. Fran then began his teaching career at Auburn High School and built a home in Oxford where he would be active in the Charter Committee, Personnel Board, Board of Selectmen, Knights of Columbus, Little League Baseball, and the Oxford Jack Benny Softball League . Following the untimely death of Jean in 1980, Fran returned part-time to radio broadcasting at WTAG. Subsequently he met Judy Lustgarten through their mutual friend Val Richards, and they were married on New Years’ Eve 1983. Retiring after a 20-year teaching career at Auburn High School, and having been on the air at radio stations WTAG, WSRS, and WAAB, Fran and Judy decided to seek warmer climes together where they bought a home in Cape Coral, FL. Not one to sit idly by in the sunshine, Fran briefly returned to teaching at Riverdale High School in Ft. Myers, FL before finally retiring in 1996. Having grown up during the Golden Age of Radio, Fran was passionate for Big Bands music, comedy, and classic serials such as Captain Midnight, The Shadow, and Little Orphan Annie. A big sports fan, Fran had covered Holy Cross College sports on the air with WTAG during the 1960's. He coached Little League baseball and played softball well into his 40’s with the Oxford Jack Benny League, and to the chagrin of many Red Sox or Patriots fans, he would fervently cheer for his beloved Detroit Tigers and Lions. He also earned the honor of Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus. Truly throwing caution to the wind, he was the first-ever airplane passenger of his then 18 year-old son, a newly “fledged” private pilot at the time. A brave man indeed… Fran is survived by his wife Judy Shea, son Mike Shea, stepchildren Lisa Lustgarten, Geraldine (Gerry) Wholley, Chip Lustgarten, 7 grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held 10 AM on Saturday Nov. 17 at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 2628 Del Prado Blvd. S., Cape Coral, FL 33904. |
