Deceased December 18, 1999
View alumni profile (log in required)
In Memory
James Shields, son of Helen and Joseph Shields, was born in Brooklyn, on Aug. 6, 1914. He died in Ft. Myers, FL, on Dec. 18, 1999.
James was graduated from Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn and, in 1935 from Amherst College, where he was a Little All-American in soccer.
He worked for a time for Merrill Lynch in New York. On May 17, 1941, he married Emily Andrews in West Hartford, CT; their daughter, Judith, was born on Feb. 25, 1943.
After army service during World War II, in a guard unit at Hyde Park, James and his family moved to Brookside, NJ, where he worked for New Jersey Bell Telephone Company until his retirement in 1975. He was active in his community as a volunteer fireman and on the school board. Following retirement, he and Emily moved to Sanibel, FL, and Brevard, NC. Emily died in Ft. Myers on Feb. 6, 1994. On Oct. 28, 1995, James married Alice Cain of Brevard.
On Sanibel, James was a member of the Lions Club and the Sanibel Congregational Church. He was also a founding member of the Sanctuary Golf Club. He was an avid golfer, and traveled extensively throughout the world.
James is survived by his wife, Alice, of Sanibel and Brevard; his brother Joseph Shields; and his daughter, Judith Louis of Harlan, IA; also by two granddaughters, Katherine Saunders of Iowa City, IA, and Alison Ellis of Des Moines, IA; and by twin great-grandchildren, Tia and Trae Saunders.
A memorial service was held on January 4 at the Sanibel Congregational Church.
Judith Shields Louis (Jim's daughter)
Jim came to us a part of a once-lively pipeline from Brooklyn, a connection that seems to have evanesced these days. He aspired to higher things as evidenced by his pledge to Phi Gam, way up on the hill. We will miss him, especially at reunion since he was active and planning to return in May. A silent toast to big Jim.
John D. Leinbach '35