Deceased June 27, 2003

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In Memory

The Class of ’74 lost one of its most colorful members last June with the death of Al Shaw. Al, a member of the geology “fraternity” while at Amherst, always followed his nose, his unique abilities and his passions. After graduation, he worked in uranium geology, real estate, antique clocks, winemaking, sheep-raising and politics. The world is definitely a different place without Al.

Al, a native redneck New Englander, was born in Hartford and started college at the University of Connecticut. He landed in army intelligence at Fort Bliss, Texas, where he learned to speak Vietnamese. While on duty, he was on a motorcycle when a truck driver cut in front of him. Always resourceful, Al tried to slide his motorcycle under the truck. His maneuver saved his life but severely damaged his leg. Army doctors tried to amputate his leg three times, but Al refused them permission. After a year in the hospital, he left on both legs.

Following his stint in the army, Al was (barely) admitted to Amherst. Initially encouraged to apply to Amherst by Dean Wall, he was subsequently turned down. Al drove right up to Amherst and announced, “Since you encouraged me to apply, I refuse to accept this rejection.” Al sealed his admission by sending Dean Wall a Christmas card with the simple message: “When am I getting in?”

Many of Al’s friends will remember his vehicle, “The Bear,” a vintage 1956 green Chevy panel truck, which he acquired from the Yellowstone Bighorn Research Association in Red Lodge, Mont., following summer field camp in 1972. The Williams campus police attempted, in vain, to have Al move The Bear off the track around the football field at the 1973 Amherst-Williams game. In his inimitable style, Al convinced them that he was part of the half-time program.

Al gained additional notoriety one April afternoon when he, an unknown Smithie, and the authors left the Geology Department picnic beside Pratt Museum to float a year’s worth of beer bottles in Prof. Brophy’s pool. The first to get caught, Al did, in fact, graduate; however, as departmental comprehensive exams were yet to be administered, it was touch-and-go for a while.

After Amherst, Al immigrated to Albuquerque, where he lived the remainder of his life. He started his professional career with Union Carbide as a uranium geologist. Al left geology to follow his lifetime love of clocks by purchasing and running Element of Time, a wonderful clock shop in Albuquerque.

In 1981 he married Cassandra, the true love of his life. They shared the next 21 years happily pursuing a wide range of interests and activities together. A born politician, Al served as a volunteer on a number of organizations throughout New Mexico including the Jaycees, the Governor’s Business Advisory Council, the South Valley Chamber of Commerce (which he founded), Senator Pete Domenici’s Small Advocacy Council and the Association of Commerce and Industry. Governor King named him Outstanding Volunteer of New Mexico in 1982.

Al contracted multiple myeloma, a relatively rare form of blood cancer, in 1994. Following a painful bone marrow transplant, he lived another 8 years cancer-free; however, when the disease returned in late 2002, there was nothing that could be done. He and Cassandra visited us in Ithaca one last time in March 2003, and by June he was gone.

At a memorial service held in Albuquerque in August, the greatest tribute to an eclectic life was witnessed by the diverse number of people who stood up to remember Al as an honest, fun-loving  man with strong opinions who would (and did) befriend everyone up to and including governors and senators. A remarkable number of remembrances included references to “beer” which, given Al’s trademark phrase about the lack of such beverages in heaven, causes us to ponder his ultimate destination.

Throughout his long bout with cancer, Al began each day with a word of thanks for “another day above ground.” We will miss Al but will forever remain thankful for his time with us as a both good friend and partner in crime.

Charlie Trautmann ’74 and Bill Barton ’74