Robert W. Shearn Dies January 26

Robert W. Shearn died at his daughter Beth’s home in Pennsylvania, surrounded by family, on January 26, 2019. He was 100.

Born February 8, 1918, Mr. Shearn was proud of the fact he was in the first graduating class from Power Memorial Academy in New York City in 1935. He earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from St. Joseph’s Seminary (Dunwoody) and worked for the FBI before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in July 1942.

He attended Officer’s Candidate School at Columbia University and diesel engineering school at Ohio State. He was assigned to LCI 11 as engineering officer for troop landings in North Africa and Italy. He answered the call for volunteers for the submarine service and served as engineering and fire control officer on the USS Pompon SS-267 during four war patrols in the South Pacific and Japan Sea. He was very proud of his Gold Dolphins.

Mr. Shearn built a successful sales career, becoming vice president of Lane Office Equipment in New York City. He was active in the Submarine Veterans of World War II, serving as its national chaplain for the last six years of the organization’s existence. He was a proud member of the American Legion, Hand Aldrich Post 924.

He was a fire commissioner in East Meadow and a school board member in Massapequa, during the rapid post-war growth of these communities. Along with Senator Ed Speno, he worked to get public transportation for parochial schools. Into his 80s, Mr. Shearn was a substitute teacher in Southampton schools.

Throughout his life, Mr. Shearn was committed to his family, his Catholic faith and pro-life causes. He was a lifelong active member of the Knights of Columbus and the Holy Name Society. For many years, he and his wife, Madeline, organized the pro-life bus trip to St. Patrick’s Cathedral and supported numerous causes for the protection of the unborn.

In addition to his wife of 40 years, Madeline, Mr. Shearn is survived by seven children; 16 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren.

Visiting hours will be at R.J. O’Shea Funeral Home in Hampton Bays on Thursday, January 31, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, February 1, at 10:30 a.m. at the Church of St. Rosalie. Interment will be at Long Island National Cemetery, alongside his first wife, Betty, to whom he was married for 27 years before she died.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Life League, PO Box 1350, Stafford, VA 22555.