Retired Rhode Island Supreme Court Justice Donald Shea, who authored more than 500 opinions during his high court tenure, has died. He was 93 and lived in Providence.
Shea was a distinguished jurist who served on the Superior Court from 1972 to 1981 and from 1991 until 1995 on the state’s highest court. His opinions touched on an array of topics, including industry, municipal government and criminal law.
“Justice Shea was the epitome of a judge should be,” said Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Suttell. “He was a true gentleman, he was kind and patient, and he leaves a legacy of his work for the court.”
Shea was the father-in-law of U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, who is married to Shea’s daughter Sara.
“As a young lawyer, I argued cases before then-Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court Donald Shea. The more I came to know him and his family, the more I came to conclusion that he may be just the kindest and most decent person I knew,” Said U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-RI. “I’m saddened to hear of his passing ands my heart goes out to his friends and family. a fine man and very proud of Rhode Island.”
Gov. Gina Raimondo ordered state flags be lowered to half-staff in honor of Shea.
Born in Pawtucket, he graduated from Providence College in 1950 and earned his law degree at Georgetown University. He began practicing law in 1955 and remained in private practice in Providence until 1968. He was elected to the RI House of Representatives from East Providence in 1960 and served until 1968, when he was appointed executive assistant to then-Gov. Frank Licht.
He was the husband of the late Ursula Rafferty Shea, who died in 2015. The couple was married for 65 years. The Sheas had five children, 11 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be held Tuesday August 20th at 10 a.m. at St. Sebastian’s Church in Providence. Calling hours will be at The W. Raymond Watson Funeral Home in the Riverside neighborhood of East Providence on Monday, August 19, from 3 to 7 p.m.