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/.
Submitted by Bret Harris