Richard Joseph Shaw, Jr.

Richard Joseph Shaw, Jr., 75, passed away Wednesday, February 10, 2021 with his wife, daughter, nieces and nephew by his side.  Born April 5, 1945, in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Richard Joseph Shaw and Mildred Jackson Shaw.  In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his in laws, CW Lorenz and Roberta Fandel Lorenz, his sisters-in-law Suzanne Lorenz Llewellyn and Kathreen Lorenz Smith and brothers-in-law Jack Massey and Hank Smith.

He attended Monsignor Bonner High School in Philadelphia where he proudly was on the two time Philadelphia Catholic League Championship football team. His athletic abilities earned him a full football scholarship to the University of Chattanooga (later UTC).  After playing three years for Scrappie Moore, an injury prevented further play, and he transferred to West Chester University of Pennsylvania where he received the B.S (or B.A.) in history and later a Master of Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  He began a 42 year long and dedicated career in teaching and coaching at Kennedy High School in New Jersey, Cleveland Jr. High School then Cleveland High School.

In the summer of 1971, he attended a coaching conference at UTK and thought, since he was in the neighborhood, to contact a Cleveland girl whom he had dated during his UC days.  As a result, he and Barbara Lorenz were married in 1972, and they made their permanent home in Cleveland, TN, in 1974.   While Shaw kept his love for Philly, he also developed a deep and abiding love for this part of the country and the people in it.  How lucky we are that he came here!

He first taught Social Studies at Cleveland Junior High but soon moved to Cleveland High School where he taught world history and many other subjects in the social studies curriculum.  Shaw also served as Cleveland High School’s Student Activities Coordinator where he planned and coordinated numerous on and off campus activities, class and summer abroad trips. He used extra-curricular activities to extend the experiences of his students.  The CHS Model UN Program which he instituted was exemplary.  His teams competed in this national lesson in diplomacy at Harvard University, Northwestern University, Georgetown University, and other prestigious universities.  He wanted our students to know that they could compete at the national level, and they did learn just that.

He was innovative in his teaching.  He and an English teacher established the World Studies class, a holistic approach to the teaching of history, literature, and culture of the various areas of the world.  No one ever complained that his classes were boring, and he might break into song to make a point or –some other maneuver that would insure attention to the lesson.  He also had such an interest in and love for his students that they wanted to do well in his classes.  He combined knowledge of his subject matter, an understanding of teenagers, and the desire for them to succeed.

He also coached 9^th grade football, varsity football, girls track, and whatever other sport needed a coach.  Benny Monroe once commented that Shaw would take any assignment given to him and perform it well and with good humor.  He truly approached every area of life in this way.

Shaw was a Stokely Fellow with UTK, a recipient of the Lillie Frank Fitzgerald Excellence in Teaching Award, the Cleveland High School Secondary Teacher of the Year, and an inductee of the Monsignor Bonner High School Hall of Fame.  More important than any specific award are the high regard and love of his colleagues, his students, and his teams.  He is among the most beloved of all Cleveland teachers.

After his retirement in 2008, he served on the Cleveland City School Board, and he could always be counted on to help out in any situation where assistance was needed. During retirement he and his wife traveled around the world to all of their bucket list locations but his favorite part of retirement was spending time with family, especially his grandchildren.

Shaw was a faithful communicant and lector of St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus. 

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Barbara Lorenz Shaw, his daughter Jennifer Kathreen Spezia and her husband Anthony Louis Spezia III and their four children Tony, Dominic, Annabella & Emilia Spezia all of Knoxville;  twin sisters Mildred Shaw Massey of Asheville, NC and Linda Shaw Hee (Jim) of Philadelphia, PA, sisters-in-law Mary Lorenz Vines (Jud) , Robbin Lorenz Oughtred and brothers-in-law Carl Llewellyn and David Lorenz all of Cleveland, TN and last but not least his beloved nieces and nephews.

The Funeral Mass will be 3:00 pm on Saturday, February 20, 2021 at St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church. Live streaming will be available through the church’s website.  The inurnment will immediately follow the service. 

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church, 900 Clingan Ridge Drive NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 (St. Therese General Fund).

Fike-Randolph & Son Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.