Peter J. Shea

1952 - 2024

Peter J. Shea

Amherst, MA - Peter James Shea, 72, passed away on Friday, July 12, after a short stay at the Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst, with his family at his side.

A longtime resident of Amherst, he was an active member of the community and served in numerous volunteer roles throughout the years, including as a member of Amherst Town Meeting, a trustee of the Jones Library, and as Amherst College's liaison to the town. He spent the majority of his career at Amherst College, beginning in 1987 and ultimately serving as Treasurer from 2002 to 2012. After his time at Amherst College, he became the Director of Finance at The Roxbury Latin School in West Roxbury until 2019, when he returned to Amherst to work as the temporary Chief Financial Officer of Hampshire College.

Peter was a proud graduate of UMass Amherst, where he met his wife and partner, Joanne. At UMass, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in accounting and then went on to earn his master's in business administration. Throughout his life, he maintained close ties with the friends he made during his college years, especially those from Thatcher and Mary Lyon Halls. Born and raised in Holyoke, he was a graduate of Blessed Sacrament School and Holyoke Catholic High School, where he fell in love with theater, musicals, and being on stage.

Peter enjoyed running with family and friends, often participating in the Falmouth Road Race, the Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Road Race, and the Cape Cod Marathon. He was an avid reader, a Red Sox fan, appreciated a well-poured Guinness, and enjoyed his many trips to Ireland over the years, most recently with his two sons in 2022. Peter spent much of his later life in Falmouth, MA, where Joanne grew up, and where he and the family created many happy memories.

Peter was predeceased by his parents, Ann and Edward Shea of Holyoke. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Joanne Henriksen Shea; his children, Brendan Shea of Holyoke, Maura Roberts of Amherst, and Colin Shea of Berlin, Germany; his grandchildren, Leland and Margot Roberts of Amherst; and his brothers, John Shea of Ludlow and Bob Shea of Manchester, New Hampshire. He will be remembered for his kind and generous spirit and his ability to bring joy to those around him.

A memorial event for Peter will be held on September 29th, 2024, at the Old Chapel at UMass Amherst from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. If you have any questions about the event, you can reach out directly to his family at PeterSheaMemorial@gmail.com

Donations in Peter's name can be made to the Hospice of the Fisher Home, 1165 N. Pleasant St., Amherst, MA, or through their website at www.fisherhome.org.