Deceased October 5, 2011
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In Memory
Richard passed away Oct. 5, 2011, in Wichita Falls, Texas, where a funeral service was held on Oct. 7. He came to Amherst from Garden City High in New York with the intention of becoming a surgeon like his father. He completed his medical degree at the State University of New York’s Downstate College of Medicine in Brooklyn in 1967, his surgery residency at Washington University in St. Louis in 1972 and U.S. Army service in Panama in 1975. Upon discharge, he joined the Medical Surgical Clinic, which later merged with the Wichita Falls Clinic to form the Clinics of North Texas, where he ultimately practiced general surgery for 35 years. He was on the staff of United Regional Hospital.
As Jim Giles '64 recalls, “Richard Shaw, my junior year roommate at Delta Upsilon, was determined, and may have felt destined, to become the finest physician and surgeon, no matter life’s obstacles. While Richard strove for perfection in all things, he was ever upbeat, confident and considerate of the integrity of others. He excelled in all his courses, working diligently and efficiently. His maturity of carriage and visage made it easy for one to accept as inevitable and wonderful that he would be engaged in saving lives. He left Amherst after junior year to enter Downstate Medical School. Although DU was thrilled by his achievement and recognition, we might have tried to “red-shirt” him (if we could) for another year as not only indispensible to the fraternity’s academic bottom line but also a quick and resourceful member of its touch football team. I treasured his friendship and camaraderie and feel his loss deeply.”
Richard is survived by his wife of 36 years, Patricia; numerous children, grandchildren and in-laws; a great-granddaughter; and legions of close friends and colleagues.
David Parker ’64