Former St. Francis Priest, School Principal, Dies at 85

The Rev. Charles E. Shaw, a former pastor at in Naugatuck and principal of St. Francis School during the 1950s, died this past Friday at his home in Phoenix, Ariz.

Shaw was also the founding principal of East Catholic High School in Manchester. Here is his obituary, courtesy of Manchester Patch: 

Father Charles E. Shaw passed away on Friday, Nov. 18, 2011 in Phoenix, Ariz. His life's journey was a remarkable one and he left a lasting impression on all whose lives he touched.

He died, as he lived, at peace with God and himself.

Father Shaw was born in Bridgeport on July 16, 1926, to the late Ernest and Helen Grogan Shaw. He was also preceded in death by his sisters, Kay Shaw Naylor and Sallye Shaw Devitt. He is survived by his dear nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, cousins, and his many friends who will miss him very much. Father Shaw attended Fairfield College Preparatory School in Fairfield where he developed his interest in the priesthood. He entered St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield in 1944 and continued his theological studies at St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore, Md.

He was ordained on May 3, 1951 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford by Bishop Henry J. O'Brien. His first assignment was St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Naugatuck and he was quickly tapped to serve as the principal of the parish elementary school. His passion for learning and his ability to bring out the best in the young students in his charge revealed him to be a born educator. His assignments included service as principal of the Immaculate Conception Parish Elementary School in Hartford and as assistant to the superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Hartford. In 1961, he was chosen to serve as the founding principal of East Catholic High School, and served there until 1970 when he left for health reasons.

Dedicated to making each student feel special, he spent summers committing the pictures and names of each incoming class to memory so that he could warmly greet each student by name when they arrived.

His journey also led him to serve as a counselor at St. Joseph College in West Hartford; within months of arriving he was selected to be the college's academic dean. In 1977, following recovery from a health challenge, Father Shaw was appointed director of guidance counseling at the former St. Thomas Aquinas High School in New Britain. He served there until 1988 when he retired.

Not only a passionate educator, Father Shaw led by example through his own personal commitment to learning. In the fall of 1959, he entered Fairfield University to study for a master's degree in administration. He achieved a second master's degree in Counseling in 1970 from Central Connecticut State University and then, in 1975, earned his doctoral degree in administration and political science with high honors from the University of Connecticut. His dedication to his students and the communities he served was acknowledged in awards too numerous to name.

Among his many achievements was his appointment to the Connecticut State Board of Higher Education. At the suggestion of his doctors, he relocated to Arizona in 1994. He was a parishioner of St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church since moving to Phoenix. Father Shaw's Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, November 30 at 10:30 am at St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church at 2312 E. Campbell Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85016. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Ryan House, Hospice of the Valley, Phoenix.