David “Dave” Jeremiah Shea, 91, of Colchester, treasured husband of the late Dorothy (Hannon) Shea, passed into the arms of the Lord at Hartford Hospital on September 27, 2025, after a brief illness.

Dave was born in Norwich to the late John and Eileen (Sullivan) Shea and grew up in the center of his cherished Colchester. He was a 1952 graduate of Bacon Academy where he excelled in sports, playing soccer, basketball and baseball. He was the first 1,000-point scorer in Bacon’s history and an All State selection as well. When he graduated from Bacon, he pursued a professional baseball career with the Philadelphia Athletics, where he reached the Triple A level before his career was stymied by a shoulder injury sustained while playing off season semi pro basketball. Concurrent with playing ball, Dave kept his foot in the door at college, knowing that would be how he would eventually make his “bread and butter.” Dave received his bachelor’s from the University of Connecticut and went on to receive a master’s from Eastern Connecticut State University, along with a sixth year in administration and supervision from UConn.

Dave and his beloved Dottie were college sweethearts and were married on August 20, 1960, at St. Bernard Church, Rockville, CT. They made their home on Norwich Avenue in Colchester where they raised their two children. Dave and Dottie were married for 62 years, until Dottie’s death in 2022.

Dave began his teaching career at RHAM in 1961 and after one year, he transferred to the Colchester schools where he moved from science to guidance counselor to physical education. He also served as the Bacon Academy Athletic Director where he saw the program grow from seven interscholastic teams to eighteen. Dave retired from Bacon Academy after 37.5 years of teaching, but his coaching career continued. Dottie was also a teacher in the Colchester school system, teaching second grade for 35 years.

Dave coached basketball at Bacon for 49 years, 23 seasons with the boys, followed by 26 with the girls. He won two state titles (2009 and 2012) with the girls team and one with the boys team (1981). He had an overall record of 778-308 and qualified for the state tournament in 48 of his 49 seasons. Dave also coached baseball for 24 seasons where he won over 300 games.

Dave was recognized by his community when the Bacon Academy Gymnasium was named in his honor as well as when the Bacon Academy Board of Trustees presented him with the Founder’s Day Award. He was also inducted into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the New England Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame. He is also a recipient of the Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance’s Gold Key Award.

In addition to teaching and coaching, Dave served his community in a variety of ways through the years, as town Burgess, a Colchester Lion, volunteering as a youth baseball coach, running town recreation programs, and speaking at historical events about the town’s heritage. He also enthusiastically directed the Tri County Baseball School for over 35 years. He was a lifelong communicant at St. Andrew Church, Colchester.

Despite all his involvements, Dave’s truest passion was his family. There was never a time that he did not come through with the most ardent support and love. He truly was bigger than life, our rock, and the impact Dave had on his family and those he loved was immeasurable. Dave leaves his daughter, Mary Ellen Mahoney and her husband, John, of Colchester and his son, John Shea and his wife, Dawn, also of Colchester. He also leaves five grandchildren and two great grandchildren who adored him and were the apple of his eye, David Mahoney, his wife, Valery and their son, Léo and daughter, Juliette; Katie (Mahoney) Jensen, her husband, Eric Jensen, Megan Mahoney, Caitlin Shea and Cara Shea. Dave was a second dad and constant teacher to his grandchildren, leaving them with an enduring appreciation for the simple things in life; a loving family, a strong faith, and a good ball game! He will be dearly missed by his sisters, Mary Shea Sweeney of Colchester and Eileen Shea Williams, of Columbia and sister-in-law, Shirley Hannon, Orleans, MA, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, October 11th at 10:30 am at St. Andrew Church, 128 Norwich Ave. Colchester. Burial will follow in New St. Andrew Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Bacon Academy, Guidance Office, 611 Norwich Ave. Colchester, CT 06415 Attn: David and Dorothy Shea Memorial Scholarship. To share a memory or express a condolence to the family, please visit: www.auroramccarthyfuneralhome.com