Richard J. Shaw

1944 - 2017

Richard J. Shaw
May 30, 1944 - November 26, 2017
Eugene, OR
Richard James Shaw passed away in Eugene, OR on November 26, 2017 as the result of a stroke. Richard, Rich, "Dickie" as he was known to family, was born in Santa Cruz, CA on May 30, 1944 to Orpha E. Mack and Richard A. Shaw. Rich was a known personality in Santa Cruz for years. He loved the people and the lifestyle of Santa Cruz and all that it had to offer a free spirit of which Dick was. He surfed and biked all across the County. Rich enjoyed visiting his friends and cousins in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties of which there were many. After graduating from Monterey High School, Rich enlisted in the US Army where he served as an E4 lineman. On one of his return trips home to his beloved Santa Cruz, Rich was in uniform while walking down Ocean Avenue, when someone walked up to him and spit on him. It was an incident Rich never forgot. After serving two tours on the DMZ in Viet Nam, he was honorably discharged from Fort Dix, New Jersey. He suffered debilitating nightmares from the horrors he experienced and could not sleep through the night because of the trauma. The experiences while in the service changed Rich and he vowed to treat people with kindness for the rest of his life. Many had no idea of his background or his achievements while in the service. Rich was decorated with the Good Conduct Medal, Defense Service Medal, Viet Nam Service Medal and two overseas bars. Rich was so generous, many found him difficult to understand because of his dedication to helping anyone, at any time, with any and all resources at his disposal. He lived a life of kindness which most people will never achieve. Truly, those who knew him will never be fortunate enough to meet anyone like him again. Rich leaves behind three brothers, Bruce Shaw, Steve Shaw and Jeff Shaw, one sister, Jennifer Coffey, and his stepmother, Joann Shaw, as well as 12 nieces and nephews. He worked as a wrapper mechanic in Watsonville, at Richard A. Shaw Frozen Foods.

There will be a celebration of life honoring Rich when the weather warms, for he would have it no other way. Many feel blessed to have known him. Memorial gifts can be made in Rich's name to Warrior Foundation Freedom Station, www.warriorfoundation.org.


View the online memorial for Richard J. Shaw