Daniel W. Shea, Jr.

Daniel W. Shea Jr. of Marblehead, MA, died peacefully on February 10, 2025. Dan, as friends and family knew him, was a patriot and proud veteran of the US Navy, a devout Catholic and an active parishioner at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Marblehead, MA. Most importantly, Dan was a beloved son, brother, uncle, husband, father and grandfather.

Son of the late Daniel W. Shea, M.D., and Marjorie Ward Shea, Dan was born on November 13, 1935, in Arlington, MA. He grew up in Arlington, graduated from Matignon High School in Cambridge, St John’s Seminary (MA, History) and Boston College Law School (JD), and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar.

Dan was commissioned as a U.S. Navy Officer in 1962 during the Vietnam War. He served as a Judge Advocate General at the U.S. Naval Station in Philadelphia and at sea as the Legal Officer aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Saratoga. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander on completion of his naval service.

Dan began a career of civilian legal work focused on labor relations and labor contract negotiations between large companies and unions in Cambridge, MA, Connecticut, New York City, Chicago, New Jersey and other locations in the United States and abroad. He retired in 2004 and relocated to Marblehead with his wife Marjorie.

Dan’s lifelong joys of swimming and sailing started as a child swimming off Goldthwait Beach, where he later became a Trustee of the Reservation. He learned to sail in Marblehead Harbor and owned and raced sailboats throughout his life, primarily at the Noroton Yacht Club in Darien, CT and on Lake Michigan in Chicago, IL. Upon retiring to Marblehead, he joined the Power Squadron and the Freedom Boat Club, from where he motored around the waters and harbors of Essex County, a joy he shared with his grandchildren and family.

Dan was proud of his Marblehead roots, which date back to the Civil War when his great-grandfather William Ward served in the US Navy. The Ward family owned a grocery store on the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Commercial Street, in the early 1900s. Dan’s mother was raised with her siblings in the apartment above the store until the family moved to Phillips Street in 1916.

Dan was a lifelong learner and read voraciously, giving him a wide and long view of the world and history, not to mention a million-dollar vocabulary. He shared his knowledge readily and regularly, and when dispensing it to his daughters and grandchildren, he would add, “And there’s no tuition for that!

Unfailingly polite and formal, yet always cheerful and friendly, Dan greeted anyone he encountered with a “Good morning!” or “Hello, hello!” He was well-known to the staff at the YMCA, the Council on Aging, and to business owners in town. He was a favorite at the Flower House, where he bought his wife Marjorie bouquets for every occasion.

In retirement Dan was an active volunteer at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church and also served the town of Marblehead on voting matters. He mentored a youth from Children’s Friend and Family Services in Salem, MA, taught English to speakers of other languages, mentored veterans in Veterans’ Treatment Court, Boston, was Of Counsel for a local law firm, and narrated boat tours of the Boston Harbor Islands. He also enjoyed his many years as a member of the Beverly-Marblehead Sail & Power Squadron and the Wardroom Club of Boston.

Dan is survived by the love of his life and wife of 61 years, Marjorie, and his younger brother, Rev. Timothy Shea. He is also survived by the greatest joys of his life: daughters Cathy Shea (David Turino) of Glen Ridge, NJ; Carolyn Curé (Edward Curé) of East Greenwich, RI; and Susan May (Doug May) of Marblehead, MA: and grandchildren Lily Turino, Tim Curé, Nate May, and Edie May.

Visiting Hours will be held on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, from 4-7:00 pm, at Eustis & Cornell of Marblehead, 142 Elm Street. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, 10:30 am, at Our Lady Star of the Sea, 85 Atlantic Avenue, Marblehead, MA. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Marblehead Veterans’ Services, 7 Widger Road, Marblehead, MA 01945. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome.com for Dan's family.