In Memory

Thomas Alan Shaw - Class Of 1967

THOMAS ALAN SHAW

May 31, 1949 - June 4, 2020
Tom Shaw passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by close family on June 4, 2020. Tom was born in Sparta, WI to Glen and Laurel Shaw on May 31, 1949. His parents moved their family to Orange County when Tom was two years old, eventually settling in Fullerton, CA. Playing water polo and competing on the swim team at Fullerton High School and Fullerton Junior College marked the beginning of Tom's life-long passion as a waterman: swimming; surfing; water skiing. He went on to complete his college degree at UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Long Beach. During college, Tom met the love of his life, Marsha Grahn, and they wed in 1971. It was then that he began his career in public service as an ocean lifeguard for the City of Huntington Beach. After protecting the beaches and waterways of Huntington Beach for six years, Tom became a firefighter for the city. Over his 30-year career with HBFD, he attained the rank of Captain and specialized in handling hazardous materials. In 1997, he was recognized as the Orange County Firefighter of The Year among 13 distinct fire departments in the county. Tom leveraged his expertise in hazardous materials in the private sector. For 25 years, he taught emergency response for hazardous waste spills and contamination to the petroleum industry. He loved teaching and getting to know the employees (his students), and in some cases, the children of the employees, as they followed in their parents' careers. Beyond his public and private sector service, Tom was a leader and a mentor in the local community, coaching baseball, leading Cub/Boy Scout troops and serving as the President of the Huntington Beach High School (HBHS) Aquatics Booster Club. During his tenure with the Aquatics Booster Club, he co-founded the "Take-the-Plunge Campaign", raising over $600K to build a new swimming and water polo facility after the former pool had been condemned. The campaign revitalized HBHS's aquatics program and now serves thousands of students, athletes, and community members each year. Tom was a gifted woodworker who was passionate about restoring and remodeling their historic home in downtown Huntington Beach, originally built in 1905. In addition to helping neighbors and friends with their own remodeling projects, Tom lovingly passed on his woodworking skills to his two sons who carry on this tradition. At home, Tom was devoted to his family and always supported friends in need. He was considered a surrogate father by many, especially Milos Ribic, a Serbian immigrant and naturalized US citizen, who has become an honorary member of the Shaw family. Tom is survived by his wife Marsha of 48 years; two sons, Jared (Ellen); Logan (Micha); two grandchildren, Zane and Remy; 4 siblings, Neil, Nancy, Teri and Larry; brothers-in-law Mel and Jeff and many nieces and nephews. Most people who had the pleasure of knowing Tom say that he was bigger than life and a pillar of the community. To say that he will be missed by many is a gross understatement. His family is comforted knowing that God has called him home, or as they say in the fire service, "he has answered his last bell." In lieu of flowers, Tom's family asks that donations be made to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which is an organization that supports military and first responders. More info can be found at https://tunnel2towers.org/.

 



 
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07/23/20 07:41 PM #1    

Sharon Smith (Gibson) (1961)

Coment posted on behalf of Bret Harris
I was notified by my brother Bruce E. Harris who graduated in 1967 that a great friend of mine Tom Shaw passed on June 4th, 2020. Tom and I played water polo and swam on the team together. I was 2 years behind Tom and my brother. Tom and I were in the Band called Our Generation, singing our hearts out on stage. My condolences to the family. Thanks Bret Harris


08/21/20 12:13 PM #2    

Guy Giemont (1968)

Well done Tom, well done.  One of the ideas Mr Oseid gave us for our cultural bandolier was to call no man happy until he was dead.  Whoever wrote Tom's obit shouted from the rooftop that Tom Shaw died a happy and  blessed man.

What a wonderful example of how to gracefully pass through life's transitions.  Tom liked playing water polo. As a water polo player he learned to become a good swimmer, how to be part of a team, and to protecting his teamates when needed.  He used used these skills to get a job as a lifeguard.  What is interesting about the skills he used to get his first job was that these skills were not academic, they were physical and emotional. As a lifrguard these physical and emotional skills were used to protect those who were in trouble.  I don't know how much a lifeguard is paid but my guess would be that it is not enough to comfortably raise a family.  Tom needed a new job in order to be a good provider for his future or existing family. Using his physical strenght and his emotional desire to help others he transitioned into a job as a fire fighter, where he successfully developed the skills to become a Captain.  I believe that firefighters become part of an extendeed family which is true to a lesser degree with the lifeguard community. So Tom, himself is protected by these extended families until he reaches middle age, when he then enters the private sector.  His physical strenght was probably beginning to wane a bit but he was strong emotional and mentally.  Through it all he spent some of his free  time helping others.

I think Mrs. Schwartz, our college counselor, believed the purpose of high school was to get the grades and academic skills to get into the University of California and many student drudged along this well wore path because this was the goal that adults held before us. Tom must have not spent much time with Mrs. Schwartz, maybe that is why we thought he was one of the cool guys and wanted to be like him. Tom traveled, to use Frost's words on the road not taken, finding his own way, dealing with life from a position of strenght every step of the way. High school is more than academics. It should be about developing the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual skills necessary to positively interact with life.  Thank you Tom for showing us the way.  

 


08/22/20 11:42 AM #3    

Vicki Young (Golich) (1968)

What a beautiful statement Guy. I did not know Tom... but it sounds like he lived a life well worth the living! Vicki


03/20/21 05:07 PM #4    

Sandy Gess (1967)

I first met Tommy in Kindergarten, where we attended Maple Elementary. I think that he wore a Cub Scout uniform for picture day.  We grew up in the same neighborhood: his family on Soutgate, our family on Hill.  I remember me and my older brother, Robin, getting together with him and his older brother, Neil, at his house or our's.  He was always fun and had a great smile.  In high school it surprised me when he tried-out and got cheerleader; but he did really well.  Looked good too in his FUHS sweater.  We all went our separate ways with college (didn't we).  The few Reunions were always terrific ... but I especially remember the simplified picnic reunion we had in Huntington Beach at the Central Park, West.  I used to live in Huntington Beach just a block away when I was associate pastor of Community UMC. I genuinely was surprised that Tommy had become HB's fire chief.    Tommy really amazed everyone when a Fire Truck rolled up (no lights nor sirens): he had arranged for a fire truck to come to the picnic and gives rides to all the kids!  I can still picture the delight on the face of Glenna Newkirk's youngest daughter.  What a wonderful gesture.  I appreciate reading the obituary and learning so much more about Tommy.  Wonderful legacy.  Terrific guy.  Would that each of us are recognized for so much. Blessings to his family, and our classmates.


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