Rodney Shaw obituary

Rodney Shaw
1934-2017

TURNER — Rodney Shaw, 82, peacefully passed away at his home, with his family by his side, on Monday May 15.

He was born Nov. 26, 1934, the son of Printess and Kay (Burdin) Shaw. He was a 1953 graduate of Leavitt Institute and a 1957 graduate of the University of Maine, where he majored in business management. He was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity and Army ROTC, graduating as a commissioned officer. He later earned a graduate degree in banking from Rutgers University.

After graduation from the University of Maine, he served at Fort Bliss, in El Paso, Texas. It was from here that a call was made to Leeds, asking the love of his life, Marilyn “Mim” Waite, to be his bride. They married in August 1958 on the base.

After two years of service, Rod moved his young and growing family to the Washington DC/Richmond, Va., area, where he worked in the photo industry. But Maine always beckoned, and he and Mim returned in 1969.
He made his career in banking with Casco Bank, and later became treasurer for the Hartford Insurance Agency, from which he retired in 1998.

He was very active in his community. He was a member of the Turner Board of Appeals and Budget Committee, and was president of the Trustees of Leavitt Institute. He was as member of Kiwanis, Rotary and was a Freemason with the Nezinscot Lodge. He prided himself on never missing the Turner Town Meeting.

He and Mim were among the founding members of the Leavitt High School Sports Family. For the past 40 years, he took an active role on the board of his college fraternity Sigma Nu. Baseball was one of his passions. He played for Leavitt Institute and later played center field for the Turner Townies.

In 1957, they went to a National Championship Tournament in Battle Creek, Mich. He coached youth baseball and umpired many local games. He was great fan of the Red Sox, traditionally going to opening day at Fenway Park with good friends Don Ricker and Scott Honaker. This trio was often seen at many Leavitt Hornet athletic events.

He took great joy in supporting his seven grandchildren at their many and varied activities, including baseball, skiing, field hockey, ice hockey, Boy Scouts, dance, soccer, drama, music and on.

His greatest joy outside of family was being outdoors. He was a lifelong fisherman, hunter, woodsman and pilot. He and Mim spent considerable time at their camp in Northeast Carry on Moosehead Lake, where the door was always open to friends for a good meal and a game of cribbage or dominoes. He found peace in nature, often going for long walks in the woods with his wife or just alone.

Rod is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mim; two sons, Kenneth and wife, Darcy, of Turner, and David and wife, Julie Ann, of Auburn; a daughter, Nancy Ricker and husband, Harry, of Turner; a brother, Joe and wife, Linda, of Vermont; sisters-in-law Barbara Angell, Thelma Waite and Dorothy Shaw; grandchildren Andy Ricker and wife, Megan, of Turner, Kendall Ricker and wife, Alicia, of Greene, Sam Ricker and fiancée, Tomi, of Auburn; Morgan and Emily Shaw of Turner, Savannah and Donovan Shaw of Auburn; great-grandchildren Thomas and James Ricker and Charli Kay Ricker. He was close with his many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents and a brother, Pete Shaw; sister-in-law Jean Shaw; brothers-in-law Dick Angell and Clint Waite. The family would like to thank Androscoggin Hospice and Friends Alternative Care service for their care and support.

A funeral service with full military honors was held at Finley Funeral Home, 15 Church St., Livermore Falls. Interment is at Maple Grove Cemetery, North Parish Road, Turner.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either Trustees of Leavitt Institute c/o Austin Associates PO Box 3400, Auburn ME 04212 or Maple Grove Cemetary Association, 437 North Parish Road, Turner ME 04282.
Messages of condolence may be sent to www.finleyfuneralhome.com.