Charles Adrian Shooks

WILLIMANTIC

Charles Adrian Shooks passed away at his home in Willimantic, CT during the early morning hours of September 23rd, 2024. Born on December 13th, 1947, he was the only child of the late Frances Marie (Colicchio) Shooks and Adrian John Shooks. Charlie was born and lived his childhood in Eastchester, NY in a house that was shared with his mother's Italian immigrant parents, and many Colicchio aunts and uncles. As a young boy, he spent countless summers, holidays and vacations making memories with his large family from where his father grew up in Hillman, Michigan. Though Charlie did not have siblings, he made up for that with his dozens of cousins. It was in the woods and on the farm of his Michigan Shooks family, where he learned to fish and hunt with his father and uncles and enjoy the outdoors.

Back at his home in Eastchester, during his elementary and middle school years, he attended Annunciation Catholic School while simultaneously attending and participating in Catholic services at the Our Lady Fatima Catholic Church in Scarsdale New York. He went on to attend Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, NY to complete his high school education prior to attending Fordham University in the Bronx, New York where he graduated in 1969, earning a bachelor's degree in biology. It was at Fordham University where his interest in medicine and his roots began taking hold, growing his intention to become a Doctor of Medicine. He further went on to attend the Medical College of Wisconsin where he graduated from in 1973. It was during this time in his life, Charlie met his first wife, who was also training at Mount Sinai Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After reaching these milestones, Charlie moved farther east of his original upbringing to the Hartford area of Connecticut where he chose to narrow his field of practice in his postgraduate work with the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. After fulfilling internship and residency requirements, Dr. Shooks became board certified to practice internal medicine in 1976. At this time, he became a father to his first born, Amy Jane. As a new father, he worked as an attending physician in the emergency departments of St. Francis, Manchester, and Windham hospitals. It was not much later in the same year, Charlie and his growing family temporarily settled in the city of Willimantic, CT - the same area he, along with three other local physicians, opened a private practice in 1976. This growing medical practice would later be woven into the areas original historic fabric and help to service the medical needs of its community for forty-one years. Charlie was blessed with the addition of his first son, Adam Charles in 1980 and a second son in 1982, Dominic Joseph.

During his professional career, Charlie held a soft spot for aspiring medical students and served as a preceptor for many attending UConn's School of Medicine. He held many distinct positions serving on endless boards of various prestigious societies and associations throughout Connecticut and within Windham County. In 2013, he was awarded Physician of the Year at the Auxiliary to Windham Hospital 18th Annual Autumn Gala.

In 1988, Charlie married his second wife, Pamela and his family grew to include two stepsons, a stepdaughter, and her husband. Together he and Pam have rebuilt and shared a home in the Hill Section of Willimantic where they have spent the last three and a half decades. Together they have been active in the Victorian Home Association. Charlie took pride in keeping his lawn and landscaping in immaculate condition. His knack and desire for eye pleasing aesthetics is shown through his love for plants, ornamental landscaping, and vegetable gardening. He had a fondness for animals of many kinds and species, having had many cats and dogs throughout his lifetime. He mastered the game of chess, was enthusiastic for high stake Poker, held a lifelong love for Baseball and was even a league bowler. Charlie

helped to coach Windham boys Little League Baseball as his sons played during their school years - around the same time playing himself in the adult Softball league. In addition to swinging a bat, Charlie shared his love for fishing with his children, particularly his sons, finding time (and later in life, the stomach) to deep sea fish, as he particularly favored taking them on the Blackhawk and Mijoy Deep Sea Charters. Prior to his slow health decline, which was diagnosed as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, (ALS) aka Lou Gehrig's Disease, during his last few years of his life, Charlie remained active as he took pride in briefly being the oldest member of Future Fitness Gym. As well as traveling with Pam on cruises and tours through the country (Las Vegas being his favorite) and outside the country. He loved spending mornings at Blondie's eating chocolate chip pancakes.

In time, the addition of grandchildren was bestowed upon Charlie and the prospect of retirement approached. Charlie's unfaltering love for his patients and work made it difficult to retire even after the formal closing of his medical practice in 2017, thus he remained the medical director at Manfield's Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation until 2018. In his retirement, he enjoyed many ventures with his grandchildren. Grandpa Charlie looked forward to the Fourth of July fireworks and Halloween as he possessed a hint of portraying a teasing Grandpa; nevertheless, he made up for being scary when he donned his Santa suit the following Christmases.

Charlie will undoubtedly live in the hearts of many for ages to come. With him, he takes little pieces of the hearts he left behind, including that of his wife of thirty-five years, Pamela (McIntyre) Shooks of Willimantic, his daughter, Amy (Shooks) and her husband, Josh Bartlett of South Windham, his son, Adam Shooks of Putnam and his son, Dominic (D.J.) Shooks and his wife, Amanda (Naumec) of Mansfield.

Grandpa Charlie or Papa will forever hold unique and special memories with each of his grandchildren, Adrianna and Lucas Bartlett, Alaina Shooks, and Silas and Violet Shooks. Charlie also enjoyed the time he shared with his stepdaughter, Corinne (Conley) and her husband, Rex Morrison, his step grandchildren, Andie (Morrison) and her husband, Zachary LeBlanc, and Ace Morrison. Charlie even shared a smile or two with his step great-grandchild Orson LeBlanc. His stepson, Andrew Conley sadly predeceased him in 1988.

Our family fought tirelessly and remained relentless as we advocated for our dad, our husband, our friend to live in the comforts of his home where he could be surrounded by his family and friends. Without the same type of effort and support put forth by our health care aides, this feat would have been near impossible to maintain. It is without a doubt that Charlie appreciated his devoted caretakers, Nadine, and Nancy, and typed their names on his speaking device often. We will forever be grateful for them and have grown to consider them friends.

The family is planning a Celebration of Life this Autumn where we can gather to share memories and tell stories. Charlie's obituary on the Bacon Funeral Home website will be updated when we have the location and time finalized.The family will have a private burial ceremony at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Connecticut Chapter of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society by visiting their website: https://alsunitedct.org/

To send an online expression of sympathy, please visit www.baconfh.com

Charles Adrian Shooks