Albert L Shaw

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Albert L. Shaw, a native and lifelong resident of Juneau, on February 13, 2024 at the age of 93 years.
 
He will be lovingly remembered by his children Karl Shaw (Roz Lassoff) and Robert Shaw (Cindy); grandchildren Kate Duthie (Forrest), Meredith Porter (Brian) and Kristina Shaw (Colin Steed); great-grandchildren Maverick and Archer Shaw; brothers George and Gerald "Jay" Shaw (Jan); sister Margaret Scheibe (Mark); brother-in-law Vic Richmond; former spouse Brita Rice and her children Johanna "JJ" Vollenweider (Jason Page) and Brent Vollenweider (Shieva Latifpour); step-granddaughter Morgan Lassoff; as well as numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. 
 
He was predeceased by his loving wife of 41 years and the mother of his children, Viola Shaw; sisters Lorene Richmond and Mary Katherine Shaw; and parents, George and Katherine (née Messerschmidt) Shaw. 
 
Al attended St. Ann's School and graduated from Juneau High School in 1948. After attending the University of Washington – interrupted by two years in the Army at Fort Richardson -- and obtaining a teaching degree from Western Washington University, he spent several decades teaching for the Juneau School District. Al was instrumental in setting up the planetarium at the Marie Drake building and operated it for many years. He worked in carpentry during summers and was Treasurer of the carpenters' union for 20 years. Al served on the Juneau City Council from 1960 to 1965 and on the Board of Directors of the DIPAC Macaulay Salmon Hatchery since 1986. 
 
Al was a life-long parishioner at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Juneau as well as a regular at the Saturday pancake breakfasts at St. Paul The Apostle Catholic Church. As a child, he was the first acolyte at the first service at the National Shrine of St. Thérèse. 
 
Al also enjoyed hunting, fishing and traveling. He visited all seven continents and, in 1953, survived a deadly plane crash in the Swiss Alps. A passionate and accomplished skier, Al began skiing at age six in Evergreen Cemetery. He skied into his nineties and often crossed the globe to ski in August. Al co-founded and co-owned the Second Cabin ski area in Juneau and played a key role in developing the Eaglecrest ski area. He was also on the National Ski Patrol from 1954 until his passing in 2024.
 
A funeral mass will be held at noon on March 16 at St. Paul The Apostle Catholic Church, 9055 Atlin Dr., Juneau, AK. The mass will also be broadcast live on St. Paul's Facebook page. A reception will follow at St. Paul's.