John Michael Shaughnessy

John and his twin brother William were born in Tulsa, Oklahoma to William Aloysius Shaughnessy and Cecil Elizabeth Branstetter on May 15, 1928. The twins excelled in academics and entertained the family with music. Bill played mellophone and John played trumpet. The family moved to Waltham, Massachusetts to be closer to Shaughnessy relatives after John’s father became too ill to work.

In their adolescent years, John and Bill worked several jobs after school and on weekends to support their family. They sold newspapers and magazines and served as golf caddies. When John turned 16 he began work for Raytheon Manufacturing Company in the purchasing department of television tube production. During the next 10 years he earned degrees from Bentley College of Accounting and Finance and from Boston College while working full time.

He entered the Navy and served for 24 years before he retired as a Captain in the Supply Corps in June 1980. During his time in the Navy he earned an MBA from University of Michigan and attended the Naval War College. During his distinguished career he received the National Defense Service Medal, the Navy Reserve Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal. After retiring from the Navy he worked in business development with Ralph M. Parsons Company in Washington, DC. His duties included the financial management of the $2.2 billion Northeast Corridor Improvement Project. He returned to his first professional company, Raytheon to complete his career.

John bought his townhouse on Rolfe Street in Arlington, VA in 1980. He gathered a tremendous community of friends in his neighborhood, in his parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, at the Army Navy Country Club (ANCC) and the Pentagon Athletic Center. John was a warm and affable person who made everyone feel welcome.

John served as an usher and was a daily Mass attendee at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. He had a special devotion to the Blessed Mother under the title of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. He participated in volunteer programs whereby he drove needy people to their doctor’s appointments. John was an avid golfer. He reveled in the friendship of many other golf enthusiasts at ANCC. He served on the Board of Governors and Finance Committee as well as the Planning Committee of the ANCC. John kept physically fit. He was honored at a reception as the longest active member (54 years) of the Pentagon Athletic Center on the gym’s 70th anniversary.

John’s dedication to his family was admirable. He cared for his parents with affection, and took them on rides across the country and around the Boston area in his sporty cars. Between 1976 to 1983, he drove every weekend from Arlington Virginia to Waltham, Massachusetts to visit his father who was in a nursing home, about an 8 hour drive one-way. He sometimes brought nieces and nephews along for the ride, with a box of fudge, to visit their grandparents. Getting dinner with John at the No Name Restaurant in Boston was a solid tradition. John made special efforts to visit his mother’s Aunt Lois in Tulsa, his sister Mary and her family in California and his brother Bill’s family when they were stationed in Rhode Island and Hawaii.

John had a grand spirit of adventure and always had his polaroid camera at the ready to capture the moment. He took his sister, Margie, to Europe and drove the narrow city streets and harrowing mountain roads in style. Margie was his constant companion when she moved to Virginia in 1983. John took several trips to Alaska and made friends as he drove along the ribbon of road through the wild land of Denali National Park.

In 2019 John entered Riderwood Assisted Living in Silver Spring, Maryland. He was loved by everyone there. All of the caregivers called him “Captain!” He had a kind remark and a ready handshake for all he met there. His sister, Margie, was always at his side. Margie made the staff laugh with her ready humor and good cheer. John’s family is profoundly grateful for the attentive care John received by the exceptional Riderwood staff. He died of Covid complications.

John leaves his sister, Margaret Cecile Shaughnessy as well as his nieces and nephews: William David (Jaye) Shaughnessy, Ann S. (Joseph) Boland, Susan S. (Joseph) Baglini, Mary T. (Bernard) Collins, Kathryn G. (Kevin) Rioux, David (Sandra) Sharp, Susan Bondur and Kathy (Scott) Vonhof as well as many great nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by William D. (Patricia) Shaughnessy, Mary Teresa (Warren) Sharp, Mary Ann Shaughnessy, Patricia Maureen Shaughnessy, M.D.

On Saturday, September 24, there will be a viewing at 10 a.m. followed by an 11 a.m. funeral Mass for John at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Arlington, VA. A reception will follow. He will be buried at Arlington Cemetery in 3-4 months. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to John’s parish: Our Lady of Lourdes, Arlington, VA.