2020 -- S 2015 | |
======== | |
LC003379 | |
======== | |
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020 | |
____________ | |
S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N | |
EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE JUSTICE | |
DONALD FRANCIS SHEA, RETIRED ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE RHODE ISLAND | |
STATE SUPREME COURT | |
| |
Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, McCaffrey, Goodwin, Algiere, and Conley | |
Date Introduced: January 15, 2020 | |
Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar | |
1 | WHEREAS, The Honorable Donald Francis Shea was born in Pawtucket, on September |
2 | 14, 1925, to the late Edward and Lucy Shea. He was predeceased by his wife, Ursula Shea, and |
3 | siblings, Leonard Shea, Natalie Blais, and Daniel Shea; and |
4 | WHEREAS, After graduating from high school, Justice Shea enlisted in the United States |
5 | Navy in 1943, and served our nation with honor and distinction during World War II in both the |
6 | European and Pacific theatres, participating in both the Invasion of Normandy and the Invasion of |
7 | Okinawa; and |
8 | WHEREAS, After receiving his honorable discharge, Justice Shea enrolled in Providence |
9 | College, attaining a Bachelor’s degree in 1950. He then moved to Washington, D.C., with his |
10 | wife, Ursula, to attend law school at Georgetown University. After attaining his law degree, he |
11 | practiced in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region before returning to Rhode Island; and |
12 | WHEREAS, Justice Shea continued to practice law in Rhode Island while becoming |
13 | active in state government. In 1960, he was elected to represent the Riverside neighborhood of |
14 | East Providence in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, where he and his wife raised their |
15 | family. Justice Shea served with distinction for eight years before leaving to become the |
16 | Executive Assistant to Governor Frank Licht; and |
17 | WHEREAS, In 1972, Justice Shea began his distinguished career as a jurist when he was |
18 | appointed to the Rhode Island Superior Court. He was elevated to the Rhode Island State |
19 | Supreme Court in 1981, and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1995. Throughout his |
| |
1 | career, Justice Shea conducted himself with the utmost integrity and was well-respected and |
2 | admired for his vast knowledge and understanding of complicated legal issues and their |
3 | intersection with the law. He also proudly served as a mentor to innumerable young and aspiring |
4 | lawyers; and |
5 | WHEREAS, Justice Shea gave much of his time in service to numerous charitable |
6 | endeavors. He served as a volunteer with hospice patients and families with the Society of St. |
7 | Vincent de Paul, and provided great comfort to many suffering people. He was also a passionate |
8 | advocate for the disabled as a member of the Summit Club of East Providence, and played a |
9 | crucial role, along with his friend and colleague, Justice Weisberger, in founding the Roger |
10 | Williams Law School. Justice Shea also served on the President’s Council at Providence College; |
11 | and |
12 | WHEREAS, Justice Shea is survived by his children, Donald Shea and his wife, |
13 | Meredith, Michaela Shea McInnis, Christopher Shea and his wife, Brenda, Sara Shea McConnell |
14 | and her husband, Jack, and Ellen Shea Reinhardt and her husband, Frederick. He also leaves |
15 | behind eleven grandchildren, Michael Shea and his wife, Rocio, Meghan Shea, Julia and |
16 | Stephanie McInnis, Caitlin Shea, Catherine, Margaret and John McConnell, Jessica Shea, Emily |
17 | Shea and her husband, Morgan Dorn, and Samuel Reinhardt and two great-grandchildren, Henry |
18 | and Meadowlark Shea. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews; now, therefore be it |
19 | RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations |
20 | hereby expresses its deepest condolences to the Shea Family on the passing of the Honorable |
21 | Justice Donald Francis Shea, Retired Associate Justice of the Rhode Island State Supreme Court; |
22 | and be it further |
23 | RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
24 | transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Donald E. Shea, Michaela Shea McInnis, |
25 | Christopher Shea, Sara Shea McConnell and Ellen Shea Reinhardt. |
======== | |
LC003379 | |
======== | |
| LC003379 - Page 2 of 2 |