Obituary of John James Shaw

“It is, I believe, the greatest generation any society has ever produced.”

                                             -Tom Brokaw

John James Shaw passed peacefully on Sunday, January 16^th.  He shared 96 years of faith and love with his family.  Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, January 23^rd from 3-5 pm at the Norman Dean Home For Services, 16 Righter Avenue, Denville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, January 24^th at 10 am at St. Mary’s Church, Denville.   Private interment to follow at Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery.  Donations in John’s memory may be made to the good work of the Denville Food Pantry, 1 St. Mary’s Place, Denville NJ 07834. 

John was born in Brooklyn in 1925 to the late John and Matilda (nee Landes) Shaw. He was one of nine children to bless the Shaw family.  After his schooling he proudly served our country during WWII with the US Army.  Upon his honorable discharge he returned home and furthered his education on the GI Bill.  He graduated City College earning his BS. He started working as an engineer and a few years later he was blessed to meet Marilyn Farrell.  The rest was history.  They started a family and eventually settled in Marlboro where they would stay for over 50 years.  John was a gentleman and a true family man.  He loved raising his sons and was always present, whether at the dinner table or at every sporting event.  He was an incredible Dad. 

He enjoyed reading and history and he always kept up with current events.  He was a parishioner of St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church, Manalapan until his move to Denville in 2014.  He quickly settled in St. Francis where he made new friendships and enjoyed all of the activities.  John could be found each day with his NY Times in hand, shooting the breeze with friends.  Above all, he loved his family and talking about them with pride.  Although we are saddened by his passing, we take comfort in knowing he is united with his dear Marilyn again. 

Predeceased by his wife Marilyn (2010) and his siblings Clara, Patrick, Matilda, John, Bernard, Florence, Kenneth & Dorothea; he leaves his devoted sons and daughters-in-law, John Jr. and Dr. Nancy Shaw of Denville, and Peter and Dr. Jessica Ly of Portland, Oregon; his adored grandchildren James and Maggie Shaw; and many dear nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and caretakers.