James Robert Shaw

James Robert Shaw lost his battle with brain cancer on September 19, 2025. He was born on July 13, 1941, in Kingston, New York to Charlotte Hedwig Kloetzer Shaw and Francis Samuel Shaw. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Francia Lange Shaw. He is also survived by his five daughters, Pamela Hawkesworth (Kevin), Nancy O'Hara (Michael), Francia Ryan (Ron), Debra Grilo (Pierre) and Patricia Garcia III (Santiago), He is survived by 9 of his 10 grandchildren: Jordan, Ethan & Aidan Hawkesworth, Samuel O'Hara (Elizabeth) & Abigail O'Hara McCabe (Colin), Zachary Ryan, Juliana Grilo, Lola & Zoe Ormerod and by his nieces and nephews Michael (Mary) Shaw, Laurieann (Chris) McKay, Christopher (Cynthia) Shaw, Christa (Tom) Egan, Alicia Fogarty, and Ali Fogarty that he loved as his own. He is predeceased by his granddaughter Annaleigh Grilo and his brother William F. Shaw.

He attended Trinity-Pawling school in New York City. He attended CW Post and Long Island University in Southampton, New York.

He was an entrepreneur and lifelong learner. He took over Shaw Aero Devices, Inc. from his father in the 1970's and grew the company into a dominant industry leader in the aerospace industry. The company started in Garden City, New York, relocated to Wainscott, New York and ultimately landed in Southwest Florida. He would say that, "We have parts on all planes in the free world in both commercial and military markets." He was proud of his inventions and patents including Lightning-Safe Fuel Cap, Filler Cap Class 8 Trucking, Static Discharger, Insert to Prevent Aircraft Misfuelling, and Posi-Lift Pin for Waste Drain Valves. He was really proud of offering and presenting papers at the SAE-AE5 Committee for fuel system safety. He was recognized as an industry expert in this field. He took his aerospace knowledge and used it in the industrial markets of the class 8 trucking industry and heavy equipment vehicles and started Shaw Development, LLC. In 2007, Shaw Aero Devices was sold to Parker Hannifin where it still operates at the Shaw Boulevard address. Mr. Shaw was the Chairman of the Board of the company until his retirement in 2016.

He served on the Manufacturing Committee for Small Businesses of the Federal Reserve Board. He was a proud Rotarian in East Hampton, New York and served as its President. He was a Deacon for many years at St. Michael's Lutheran Church in Amagansett, New York and served on the Board of Lay Ministry at Marco Lutheran Church in Marco Island, Florida. As he loved education and children, he served on school boards and tutored students, sharing his love for math and was a Sunday School Teacher and Youth Group Leader. Most recently, he served as a trustee on the Board at St. Matthew's House and was on its Ministries and Programs Committee.

He most loved to be with other people, especially sharing ice cream with his grandchildren. Whether on the golf course, fishing or traveling he wanted to spend time with others and learn about them and share his knowledge.

When asked about his greatest accomplishments, he said it was employing over 10,000 people and raising five daughters.

A celebration of life will be held at Marco Lutheran Church on October 4, 2025, at 11:00am with a reception to follow at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to: Annaleigh Family Fund to find a cure for Osteosarcoma https://www.mibagents.org/family-funds/annaleighs-osteosarcoma-fight or to St. Matthew's House, https://stmatthewshouse.org/.