Gerald Francis "Gerry" Shields

Gerald "Gerry" Francis Shields, 79, died unexpectedly in Helena, Montana, on April 1, 2023.

He was a devoted husband to his wife, Pat, and an internationally respected evolutionary research biologist, and a gifted teacher with a lifelong interest in ornithology. His academic career spanned five decades. He was the James J. Manion Endowed Chair of Biological Sciences at Carroll College (1999-2017) and was Professor Emeritus in biology and research at the Institute of Arctic Biology and Wildlife University of Alaska Fairbanks (1975-1999). He received the Carroll College Academic Achievement Award in 1996 and Distinguished Scholar Award in 2017.

Gerry was born in Anaconda, Montana, to Margaret and Anthony Shields.

He was a competitive guy and was interested in sports his entire life. At Anaconda Central High School, he lettered in football, basketball and track coached by the late Jack Oberweiser Sr. and the late Patrick Curren. He later followed hockey, UAF Nanooks, Colorado Avalanche, Seattle Kraken, as well as the Seahawks and Mariners. He occasionally attended live games with his adult children and grandchildren. Gerry and Pat were season ticket holders for Carroll sports.

He was a thoughtful reader of history and biography and had a lifelong interest in politics and public affairs. As a high school senior, with assistance from his beloved uncle, Harry McGreevy, he coordinated his mother's one and only bid for public office. She was elected Deer Lodge County Superintendent of Schools by a mere 117 votes. Following the election, Gerry dubbed her "Landslide."

Growing up, Gerry's interest in biology developed early. He had a menagerie of pets that included frogs, turtles, and a pair of parakeets named Pete and Repete. In his early teens, he won a contest at a local grocery store by guessing the age of a Beagle puppy. The prize winner had a choice between $50 or the dog. Gerry chose "Duke" the puppy.

He received his Bachelors degree in biology from Carroll College (1966), his Masters in biology at Central Washington State College, Ellensburg, Washington (1970), and his Ph.D. in zoology, University of Toronto (1974).

Gerry was a prolific academic writer and authored or coauthored numerous peer-reviewed scientific articles which appeared in national and international scientific journals. His work included original discoveries concerning birds, bears, Native people, and black flies.

He was very proud that many of his undergraduate students did scientific research and had articles published, an accomplishment not common at the undergraduate level. He was a gifted classroom teacher. He always said his students challenged him and kept him at the top of his game. He took pride in the scientific and medical accomplishments of his former students, and many were his life-long friends.

For many years he offered a popular summertime bird watching course at Carroll. During the course, he took many local bird watchers and novices to diverse locations through out Lewis and Clark County. He had an uncanny knack for spotting birds everywhere.

He married Patricia Walsh in Lewistown, Montana. They had two children, John and Kelly. Gerry and Pat were married 54 years and traveled extensively world-wide. They observed bird and animal species on all seven continents, even seeing the live birth of an elephant in Africa. Just prior to his death, they had just returned from Chile where they, their children along with their long-time friends, Candie Cane and Kathy Osen sited two pumas in the wild.

Over the past 20 years, the highlight of Gerry's year was the annual multi-day summer hike in Glacier National Park with dozens of family members and friends. Over the years, this adventurous group traversed most the trails in Glacier. It was a time for family and friends to hike, eat great meals, share a good bottle of wine (several) and complain about aching muscles.

Pat and his family were his anchor from his days teaching and coaching at Billings Central High School to his final trip to Chile. He was a devoted son and loyal brother. Gerry enjoyed the company of his adult children and grandchildren, Olen and Alison.

In addition to his wife Pat Shields of Helena, he is survived by his son John Shields, Cheney, Washington; his daughter Kelly Shields and his son-in-law Angel Calvo, Seattle, Washington; and his grandchildren Olen Shields, Cheney, Washington; and Alison Shields, Spokane Washington.

He is survived by his sister Margaret Anne (Russ) Hanson, Phoenix, Arizona, and by his brothers William (Judy) Shields, Surprise, Arizona and Mike Shields (Opal Winebrenner), Helena, Montana. Also surviving are his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; James and Katherine Walsh, Oberlin, Ohio, Douglas and Sharon Walsh, Lewistown, Montana, and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret and Tony Shields, and his in-laws, Lucia (Lou) and Leo Walsh, and his brothers-in-law, Lawrence Walsh and Charles Walsh.

Ever the scientist, Gerry's remains were donated to the WWAMI Medical Research program at Montana State University. The family acknowledges the assistance of the medical staff of Helena's St. Peter's Hospital: Dr. Sarah Fenton, Dr. Timothy Messy, Dr. Stephen Mest, and the dedicated nursing staff: Lara Lovelace, Sarah Riggs, and Tom Cannon.

Memorial services will take place on Friday, April 21, 2023, at the Carroll College Physical Education Center Conference Room on the Carroll College campus from 3-5 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to: Montana Wild Montana Legacy Foundation, P. O. Box 845, Helena, MT 59624; Yellowstone Forever, P. O. Box 1857, Bozeman, MT 59771-1857; Glacier National Park Conservancy P. O. Box 2749, Columbia Falls, MT 59912, or simply take a drive to Butte and have a Pork Chop John's sandwich (Mercury Street location) and think of Gerry.

Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a favorite memory of Gerry.