John J. Shea

John J. Shea age 70, beloved husband of Susan, nee DeRosier; loving father of Beth Testen (Bob) and John Shea (Sheila), Pop Pop to six grandchildren, Ceilidh, Meg, Kerry, Eila, Ethan and Zadie, died on May 27, 2008 after a four year battle with cancer. Jack Shea was president and chief executive officer of Spiegel, Inc. from 1985 to 1997. During his years at the helm, Spiegel achieved rapid growth and widespread acclaim for innovative merchandising programs. Shea masterminded the acquisition of Eddie Bauer in 1988 and Newport News in 1993, and, with Spiegel Catalog, the combined entity under Shea's leadership became a $3 Billion multi-channel specialty retailer. A merchant by training and instinct, Shea spent his early executive years at the John Wanamaker Corporation, rising to senior vice president of merchandising before joining Spiegel as vice president of merchandising in 1981. Mr. Shea was Chairman of the Board of the National Retail Federation, the World's largest retail trade association. He also was Chairman of the Board of Trustees of LaSalle University, Philadelphia. In addition, he served on the Advisory Board of the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, the Board of Trustees at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, and the Boards of Nalco, Pulte Homes and American Century Casualty Company. Throughout his adult life, Mr. Shea was involved in many civic and community organizations including the Chicago area Boy Scouts where he was co-chairman of the annual Boy Scout luncheon which became the most successful fund raiser in the Boy Scouts of America. In honor of Mr. Shea's first career as a toy buyer, Mrs. Susan Shea requests that all contributions be made to Toys for Tots, in memory of John J. Shea, Marine Toys for Tots Foundation 18251 Quantico Gateway Drive Triangle, VA 22172. Visitation Friday 3:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Knollcrest Funeral Home, 1500 S. Meyers Rd. (3 blks S. of Roosevelt) Lombard. Funeral Saturday 9:45 a.m. from the funeral home to Our Lady of Peace, 701 Plainfield Rd., Darien. Mass 10:30 a.m. Interment private. Info: (630) 932-1500.