Laurence L. Shields, RIP

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Laurence L. Shields, a 50-year member of the Thomas Aquinas College teaching faculty who passed away, quite suddenly, from a heart attack this afternoon.

“Larry was one of the longest-serving tutors at the College,” reflects President Paul J. O’Reilly. “He was a man of deep faith and loved reading and discussing the Scriptures. All who knew him saw how much he loved the students here. Our prayers are with his wife, Linda, and their family, as we pray for the repose of his soul.”

As an undergraduate Mr. Shields studied under the College’s founding president, Dr. Ronald P. McArthur, at St. Mary’s College of California. After earning his master’s degree and completing his doctoral studies in the history of science at Princeton University, he taught at the New Jersey Institute of Technology before rejoining Dr. McArthur at the College in 1972, its second year.

Mr. and Mrs. Shields are the parents of seven children, including five TAC alumni: David (’92), Laura (Guy ’97), Michael (’99), Julie (Zepeda ’04), and Daniel (’05). They also have been blessed with 35 grandchildren — including five alumni: Sarah (’24), Kaitlin (’25), and Nathaniel Shields (’26) and John Paul (’22) and Gianna Guy (’24) — and three great-grandchildren.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.
Amen.