Shea, Morton
Sep 7, 1934 - Dec 24, 2017
Morton A. Shea, born in 1934 in Keene, NH to William and Helen (Klein) Shea, graduated Keene HS. Mort attended Dartmouth College, Keene State, Framingham State, and BU with B.eD, M.eD, and CAGS degrees with majors in Secondary Ed., English and School Admin.
In 1958 he married Pauline M. Dube, from Salem, NH, whom he met at Keene State and they have three daughters, Pamela (Shea) Donlin, wife of Paul Donlin and mother of Kelly & Kevin Donlin, from Naples, FL, Mashpee, MA and Sutton, NH; Elizabeth (Beth Shea) Braithwaite, from Franklin, TN, wife of Colin Braithwaite and mother of Shannon (Braithwaite) Himes, Kelsey Braithwaite and Meredith Braithwaite; and Linda (Shea) Hilliard from Punta Gorda, FL, wife of Mark Hilliard. He is survived by Pauline and brother Winslow (Win) Shea of Miami, FL.
He played varsity tennis for Keene State, taught English in Hudson, NH for 2 years and in Needham, MA for 35 years where he coached HS boys tennis and was Chairman of the MA Tennis Coaches Assoc. several years. He was twice awarded MA Coach of the Year. He was president of the Needham Tennis Club and Needham Teachers' Assoc. and Chairman of Negotiations and Salary Committees.
After retiring they lived at Eastman in Grantham, NH, was President of the Newport Tennis Club and organized several leagues and tournaments with Pauline to benefit Children's Hospital at Dartmouth. He and Pauline won both the MA and NH Senior Mixed Doubles Championships multiple times and played in the National Senior Mixed Doubles twice. Following a propane explosion in 2003 where Mort was severely injured, they became "snowbirds" and winter at the Meadows in Sarasota, FL.
Mort was an avid bridge player, antique collector, loved building stone walls and creating flower gardens and was a member of the Grantham Garden Club and a Director of the Grantham Historical Society. He was awarded Eastman's Volunteer of the Year and volunteered with Pauline at the Sunapee Craftsmen Fair many years. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends!
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Sponsored by National Cremation and Burial Society - Sarasota.
5 Entries
January 16, 2020
I am not consistent reading posts from NHS, thus quite late in hearing of Mr. Shea's passing. He was my English teacher at Pollard Jr. High in 1960, and I adored him. He motivated me to read, investigate, be creative when I wrote. He inspired me to be a life long learner. Later in life, I founded my own private, independent school and often thought of Mr. Shea, hoping to inspire my students, as well as fellow teachers, as I was once inspired. Thanks for the legacy, Mr. Shea.
Betsy Bacon, MEd
Park City, Utah
January 6, 2018
Friend
Gregg Sanders
Mrs. Shea, Pam, Beth and Linda. I was very sad to hear about Mr Shea's passing. I'm sure it's no surprise to you to know how significant Mr. Shea was in my life. As a young boy hoping to play on his tennis team to a jr high school student in his class, having him as a coach and then having him as a friend. If I held him in the highest regard during those early days I can tell you that over the years of reflection my respect and admiration for him has only grown. He is a special person to me.
I hope there is peace for all of you in the weeks to come and please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. Gregg Sanders
January 5, 2018
Gary McNeill
Pam, Beth and Linda....and of course Mrs. Shea......my thoughts and prayers are with you.....as your Neighbor for many years in Needham - God Bless you there as well........he was simply one of the Nicest People to meet and greeted everyone so kindly.
It has been many years since you lived on Deerfield Rd.....I am confident he is looking down fondly and proudly on you all....God Bless !
Gary
December 28, 2017
Andrea Hall smith
One of my very best English teachers throughout my years as a student in the Needham School System. A stickler for grammar and quick to encourage when assignments discouraged, he helped form a lasting foundation for skills which eventually led to a career in journalism. Thought of him so often when the challenges of difficult to attack topics threatened to discourage me. How blessed I was to have had him as a teacher.
December 26, 2017
evie peck
you brighteed our lives both on and off the court
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