Thomas P. Shea

1951 - 2021

By Mark Zaborney
Blade Staff Writer

Thomas P. Shea, the longtime manager of Joseph's Beverage Center on Talmadge Road who was instantly identifiable by his red jacket and kept up on industry trends while guiding customers, died Sunday in his South Toledo home. He was 70.

He'd been ill since August, his daughter Dana Smith said.

He semi-retired about eight years ago, yet continued to work every day.

"Customers loved him. Employees loved him," said David Joseph, of the Joseph family who own the store. "He knew how to get along with people. People wanted to come in and see him."

Mr. Shea was a reliable source for reporters writing about currents in wine, beer, and other alcoholic beverages. He offered insight when, at the end of 1999 at Joseph's, Dom Perignon was selling at 10 times its normal price, with other sparkling wines flowing out the door as well - and three years later as sales flattened out.

Through the years, he spoke of trends before holidays and ahead of the annual Ohio State University-University of Michigan football game. As craft beers picked up steam, Mr. Shea in 2013 told The Blade, "I think more people are looking for more in their beer than just watered-down Coors Light or Bud Light."

Mr. Joseph said: "He was very good at merchandising. He always had a knack to learn. If he had to read books and go to classes, he would do it to make it better."

The Joseph family's Joseph's Super Markets were part of the Toledo shopping landscape for decades. Mr. Shea started working for the family at age 15 at the Byrne Road-Glendale Avenue location. He advanced rapidly, becoming the local chain's youngest manager at its store on Alexis and Tremainsville roads, Mr. Joseph said, followed by stints at Navarre Avenue in Oregon and then Cherry Street and Delaware Avenue.

"He learned the business," Mr. Joseph said.

The family later got out of the grocery business, although it retained ownership of the shopping plazas the supermarkets had anchored. Mr. Shea went to Joseph's Beverage Center in 1978 and became vice president and general manager. He oversaw a growth in workforce - four to 25 - and in the facility's size.

"He loved his job and loved managing for them," daughter Heather Shea said.

Daughter Dana said: "The Josephs are his family. He looked up to the Josephs and wanted to be a good hard worker for them."

At Joseph's Super Markets, store managers wore a red jacket. Mr. Shea brought his red jacket with him to Joseph's Beverage Center - and continued to wear its successors.

When customers had questions, "people would say, 'See the guy with the red coat.' It was his signature mark," Mr. Joseph said.

Born March 27, 1951, to Mary Jane and Fredrick Shea, Mr. Shea grew up in South Toledo and was a 1969 graduate of Bowsher High School. He attended the University of Toledo.

He was formerly married to Denise Stoner Fifer.

Surviving are his life partner, Tanya Bellner; daughters, Heather Shea and Dana Smith; sister, Susan Rill; brother, Fredrick Shea, and 10 grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 3-8 p.m. Wednesday at Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home, Maumee. Services will begin at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Rose Church, Perrysburg.

The family suggests tributes to St. Petri Lutheran Church in Toledo or St. Joseph Church in Maumee.