John Paul Shaw

John Paul Shaw, 85, of Alpharetta, GA, passed away on October 2, 2023. He was born on May 30, 1938, in Brooklyn, NY, to Frederick and Helen Shaw. John was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Ann Cox.

John was a loyal friend and community member, known for his ability to fix anything. He enjoyed taking on home repair and renovation projects for himself, as well as for his friends and family. He was an avid and inquisitive reader who loved sharing books and all that he had learned from them. He enjoyed playing WORDLE daily with his family across the country and looked forward to their week together at the beach every summer. In addition to being a fan of the Miami Dolphins, John was a lifelong baseball fan, originally of the Brooklyn Dodgers, later adopting the Atlanta Braves.

John is survived by his brother-in-law, Henry Cox, and his nephews James Cox, Daniel Cox, and Michael Cox and his niece Diane Sample. He was also a beloved great-uncle to Ryan Cox, Katie Wheeler, Caroline Cox, Sophia Cox, Charlotte Cox, Jack Sample and Julia Sample.

John grew up in Brooklyn, New York where he attended Our Lady Help of Christians primary school and Midwood High School. John graduated with a bachelor's degree from Niagara University in 1960, and was then drafted into the US Army, where he served honorably for two years in Europe with the 37th transportation command in support of the cold war effort.

John had a remarkably successful career with the S.S. Kresge/KMart Corporation. He joined a management training program working at S.S.Kresge in Brooklyn, NY, in 1960, which he returned to after serving in the army, and worked his way up to become a store manager, district manager, and regional manager for KMart for the Southeastern United States and Puerto Rico. From there he became a KMart Executive Vice President and the Director of Store Development and International Retailing. In this position, John played a crucial role in the international sales expansion of KMart into the Czech Republic (as Makro), where he developed a great fondness for the city of Prague. After retiring from KMart in 1995, John combined his business knowledge with his passion for home renovation and became a partner in Cornerstone Interiors, an interior design and home furnishings company in Duluth, GA. With his good friend and colleague Laura Bloom, he later co-founded Home Expressions Interiors by Laura Bloom, in Alpharetta, GA.

John Shaw was quick with a story and quick with a helping hand. He was generous almost to a fault, and he will be deeply missed by his family and friends. His legacy of dedication, craftsmanship, and kindness will continue to inspire all who knew and loved him.

A memorial service will be held at St. Benedict Catholic Church, in Johns Creek, GA, on Monday, November 20, 2023, at 10:30 am.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Catholic Charities in John's memory.