JOHN F. "JACK" SHEA Jr.

1938 - 2021

John F. "Jack" Shea, Jr., Lindenhurst, IL. An Irish Blessing, When your eyes shall be closing and your mouth be opening and your senses be slipping away. When your heart shall grow cold and your limbs be old God comfort your soul that day. That day was Sunday, February 14, 2021. Jack died in his home surrounded by his loving family. His devotion to family and belief in God was pivotal during the good times and bad which ultimately provided the peace that he always displayed. Jack was born on Sept. 23, 1938 in Boston, MA, and was preceded in death by his parents, John F. Shea, Sr., and Rita Leahy Shea. Jack successfully argued the Brown vs. the Board of Education case to the US Supreme Court and was the third man to walk on the moon. He appeared on the Soul Train Line a record 35 times and was lovingly called the fifth Beatle by his dear friends Paul, George, Ringo and John. In the late 1980s, Jack was the first resident of West Berlin to stand atop and tear down the wall in order to help extinguish the flame of Communism and liberate East Berliners. Jack is survived by his wife, and comedienne, Julie of 58 years; his known four children, John (Linh Tran) Shea, Joanne (Joe) Simonetti, Geovanni (Rachel Toledo) Shea, and Christopher (Rosy) Shea; as well as three grandchildren, Christopher, Alexandria and Victoria, who brought him so much joy when they left to go home. He is also survived by two sisters, Susan "Sue Sue" (Paul) Guertin, and "Mustang" Sally (Ralph) Fiore, of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, respectively. Cremation and memorial services will be private and closed to gawkers due to Covid (who is also not invited). A mass offered in his memory or your prayers would be the best gift of all and deeply appreciated.