William Thomas Shea

1930 - 2024

William Thomas Shea
The Shea family mourns the passing of William Thomas Shea, who died peacefully on July 12, 2024. William (Bill) Shea was born on July 2, 1930, in Springfield, Massachusetts, the son of the late Charles Edward Shea and Beatrice Milmore Shea. The second youngest of five, he was predeceased by his sisters, Marie Conklin, Eileen Trainor, Claire Garvey, and Betty Bremer Ferry, as well as his wife of sixty years, Janice Weigand Shea. He is survived by his children, Mary Shea, William Shea Jr., Ellen Mendelson, Kathleen Shea Smith, Christine Shea, and Margo Shea; children-in-law, Yuri Dombrovsky, Suzanne Welder Shea, Allen Mendelson, and Matthew Barlow; and his grandchildren, Emily Dombrovskaya, Haley Shea, Charlie Shea, Avery Smith, Rachel Mathison (wife of Avery Smith), and Ella Smith.
Bill moved with his family to Meriden, Connecticut, in 1936, where he resided until 2018. He graduated from Meriden High School, earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from the Wharton School of Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania, and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. In 1955, Bill's legal career was launched when he joined the Meriden law practice of Francis O'Brien, Joseph Noonan, George Kilroy, and William Comiskey, and he practiced law in Meriden for over sixty years.
Shea was a natural politician who quickly found his calling. At 28, he was elected to the Connecticut State Legislature and became its youngest member in history. He served four terms and rose to the rank of Minority Leader in the House of Representatives. In 1963, he was elected Mayor of the City of Meriden, serving from 1964 to 1968. Meriden changed for the better because of his hard work and deep engagement, which continued for many decades. As Mayor, he was inspired by the Civil Rights movement, and, in 1966, created the first Human Rights Director position to ensure that all citizens had equal access to jobs, fair housing, and political representation. As part of the Urban Renewal and Redevelopment Plan, his administration also completed several highway projects, including Route 691, making Meriden a hub of a highway system covering the state. In 2015, he was inducted into the Meriden Hall of Fame to commemorate his contributions to the city. The ripple effect of his leadership was far-reaching. When he was out with his children and grandchildren in Meriden, it was common for people to approach him and talk about the ways he had personally helped them.
William T. Shea was much more than his list of accomplishments. His life and legacy were marked by joy, service, devotion, creativity, deep friendships, and a quest for adventure-all of which he instilled in his children and grandchildren. A lifelong learner himself, he believed in the power of education and made this a cornerstone family value. He and his wife Janice were true partners and shared their deep commitment to family, education, and faith.
As a man of great faith and a devout Catholic, he believed in the importance of service. He served as President of the Board of the St. Vincent DePaul Society and looked forward to attending the Society's annual retreats, which he did well into his 80s. He appreciated classical music, held a position as President of the Board of Mohawk Trail Concerts, and made friends with many of the musical performers.
Bill enjoyed cooking and gardening, often sharing produce and culinary creations with friends and family. He was an avid skier and swimmer and loved the family getaways to Charlemont, Massachusetts, where he enjoyed the beauty of every season, especially ski season. Some of his happiest adventures were trips to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to ski with his daughter, Chrissy.
After Janice's death in 2018, Bill spent several good years living with his daughters and sons-in-law, who cared for him with dignity and respect. Throughout his life, Bill Shea earned the love, friendship, loyalty, and affection from all who knew him, including the devoted team at Maplewood Nursing Home in Walpole, New Hampshire.
His family will receive relatives and friends on Monday, July 22nd, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the John J. Ferry & Sons Funeral Home, 88 E. Main St., Meriden, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, July 23rd, at 10 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 35 Center St., Meriden. Everyone is asked to meet directly at the church. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery, 250 Gypsy Lane, Meriden. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of William T. Shea can be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10001, or Maplewood Nursing Home of Cheshire County (Staff Support), 201 River Rd., Westmoreland, NH 03467. For online condolences, please visit jferryfh.com .