Mr. Eugene Shea's Obituary
Shea, Eugene William Patrick, 105, passed peacefully in St. Petersburg, Florida on October 3rd, 2017. “Gene” was born March 9th, 1912 in Lake Placid, New York to James and Grace (Obrey) Shea. He enjoyed a close relationship with his four siblings, James, Jr., Jack, Grace, and Edmund Shea, all predeceased. His father James owned “Shea’s Market” and was a four-term representative in the New York Legislature. In their youth, Gene, age 11, and Jack, age 13, were members of a 5-person Grand Slam Skating team from Lake Placid that won every individual event in the 1923 International Speed Skating Championships held in New Brunswick, Canada. This accomplishment was featured in Ripley’s Believe or Not. Jack Shea went on to win two gold medals in speed skating at the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. Gene attended Dartmouth College (’34) and subsequently earned his law degree at Fordham University in New York City. He practiced law in Lake Placid and served as Justice of the Peace for Essex County, New York, until moving to St. Petersburg in 1946. Here, he found his true passion in real estate sales with Tourtelot Realty and Coldwell Banker. His success earned him the title “Deal A Day Shea”. He served two terms as President of the Florida Amateur Athletic Union during which he was an early advocate for the racial integration of amateur sports.
Eugene Shea’s amazing spirit lives on in his wife of 53 years, Marilyn “Kitty” Shea and 10 children: Nila J. Shea, Diane Shea-Piser (husband Phil), Dennis S. Shea (wife Paula), Danny E. Shea (wife Sandra), Dawn Shea, and Dana J. Shea, children from his former marriage to Ina M. Selee, deceased; Barbara McCombs (husband Jim), Carol Good (husband Bud), Donna Appel (husband Sid), and Robert A. “Sandy” Ewing, Jr., children of Marilyn Shea and Robert Ewing, deceased; 18grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, and his beloved shelties, Jodi and Shepp. Memorial Park Funeral Home is handling the funeral arrangements. The family is planning a private ceremony to celebrate his life.
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