John F. Shaw

SHAW, JOHN F. Rear Admiral, USN Rear Admiral John F. Shaw; Jack, to all who knew him, died May 28, 2009, of respiratory failure. Admiral Shaw, 70, retired in 1991 after over thirty-five years of naval service. He was a resident of Coronado. At sea, he served primarily in cruisers and destroyers. He commanded USS Farragut DDG 37 and USS Bainbridge CGN 25. As a Flag Officer at sea, he commanded the Missouri Battle Group and the Midway Battle Group during the Iran/Iraq war in 1987-88. His assignment at that time was Commander Cruiser Destroyer Group One home ported in San Diego. Born in Dallas, Texas, in 1938, he was raised in Hagerstown, Indiana, and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1960 and then served in his first destroyer, USS Edson DD 946. He is a graduate of Nuclear Propulsion Training, the Armed Forces Staff College and the U.S. Naval Post Graduate School where he was awarded a Master of Science Degree with distinction in Management Science. Ashore in 1983, he was the first flag officer to head the Arleigh Burke program and was in that position when the contract design was completed and the USS Arleigh Burke DDG51 contract was awarded. He then served as the AEGIS Shipbuilding Program Manager from 1985 to 1987. During this time, the first AEGIS cruisers with the Vertical Launch System were commissioned. His last assignment prior to retiring was as Chief of Staff to the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia. During his naval career, Admiral Shaw was awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the national highest DOD peacetime award, three Legions of Merit and numerous other personal and campaign awards. Admiral Shaw's San Diego assignments began in 1978 when he was Executive Officer USS Long Beach CGN 9. He then commanded USS Bainbridge CGN 25 from May 1980 to June 1983. He returned here to command Cruiser Destroyer Group One in 1987. In October 1991, Jack retired and he and his wife, Jan, returned to their home in Coronado. In retirement, he was active as a volunteer. He was very proud of his time spent on the Coronado Library Board of Trustees from 1997 to 2005. He served as the President of the Board during the library's remodel and expansion. He was the Secretary/Treasurer of the Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging at UCSD Medical School from 2001 to 2004 and on the emeritus board of advisors since 2005. His connection with the Navy continued as an active member of the Class of 1960 U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and as a leader of other San Diego Naval activities. He also donated his time as an AARP tax counselor for the aging. The Admiral was a golfer, reader, gardener - and good friend to many. He and Jan traveled extensively since his Navy retirement. Admiral Shaw is survived by Jan, his wife of over 46 years; his two daughters, Elizabeth Crandall and son-in-law Stephen Crandall of Barrington, Illinois, and Suzanne Camilli and son-in-law Kevin Camilli of Navarre, Florida; a brother, Lee Murray of Toledo, Ohio; and five grandsons, Kyle, Brian, Tucker, Owen and Ian. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, June 5th, at 2:00 p.m., at the Naval Air Station North Island Chapel. Non-military guests may arrange entrance at the base gate. The Admiral was cremated and his ashes will be scattered at sea. Donations may be made in his name to the Class of 1960 U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association, the American Cancer Society, or the Coronado Library Board of Trustees.