John Clark Shaughnessy's Obituary
John C. Shaughnessy of Berea departed peacefully on July 13, 2024. John grew up in Bay Village, the son of a single mother, Dorothy (deceased) who worked as a nurse. The challenges of single parenthood forged a strong bond between Dorothy and John that lasted throughout their lives. After graduating from Bay High School, John joined the Army. He served in Germany as a medic and social work proctor. During his time in Germany, he met his first wife, Uta. While this was not a long-lived marriage, they maintained a lifelong friendship and continued to visit on many occasions. Post army, John attended Tri-C and later transferred to Hillsdale college in Michigan. He earned a degree in sociology in 1971. While commuting back and forth from Hillsdale to Ohio to visit his mother, he met his wife of 52 years, Annette. Their introduction was encouraged by their dear friend, Craig. Although she stood him up on the first date, Annette and John eventually married and settled in Berea.
During the beginning of their marriage, John was employed as a probation officer. Later, he worked at Lakewood hospital in materials management. Finally, John took the VP of Operations position at the family furniture business, Wayside Furniture, in 1985 and retired in 2018. He felt everyone should be reminded not to work too long!
John always put his family first and dearly loved being a part of Annette’s large immediate and extended families. He had a passion for seeing the world with his wife. They had taken trips to Africa, Jordan, France, Egypt, and Italy to name a few. In his retirement, he made time for many hobbies including fencing lessons, horseback riding, painting, and sailing. John often traveled to Miami to visit his daughter, Mia, and her husband, Rob, and their daughter Penelope, and dog Hudson. His gregarious nature led him to become fast friends with Mia’s neighbors. A lover of people and animals, John always had a kind smile and thoughtful word for everyone he met. John would want to remind everyone to eat the ice cream and a cookie at the end of every meal and have a bourbon before bed. He’d also tell you to take a walk in nature, sit outside on your back porch and enjoy a cup of coffee in solitude or with a friend, pet dogs, work on a project, tinker with things, say hello to a stranger and offer them a smile, ask questions to get to know people, and tell those you love how much you care about them, right now! In keeping with these thoughts, it’s notable that John passed while assembling a porch table with his friend, Craig…busy and smiling until the end!
In lieu of flowers, please call, write or visit a friend, or send a donation to a charity of your choice. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
“Show me the good life that doesn’t consist in its length, but in its use, and it is possible-no, entirely too common - for a person who has had a long life to have lived too little”. ~ Seneca, Moral Letters, 49.10
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