Joseph Patrick Shea

Joseph Patrick Shea "A man of extraordinary accomplishments and extraordinary heart" Renowned writer, editor and activist Joseph Patrick Shea died Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at the Ellenton, Fla. Hospice House near his home in Bradenton. He was 69 years old. Joe was born February 7, 1947 in Goshen, New York, to John S. Shea, Jr. and Nina D. Shea of Monroe and New York City, respectively. Born into a family that was a force in New York City politics, Joe's grandfather, John S. Shea, was elected sheriff of New York in 1909, the first Republican elected in Manhattan since Reconstruction - and the last until Joe's great-uncle, William F. Shea, was elected to the bench more than 40 years later. Joe's father also served as District Leader in the East Side Republican Club of Manhattan, which included Mayor John Lindsay as a member. With this legacy and regular dinner table conversation on political topics, Joe was inspired to get involved in politics and community issues. Joe enjoyed the childhood thrills of growing up on a farm in a small village, now such an important suburb of New York City. A graduate of Monroe Woodbury Central High School where he served as Junior High School President, Joe was preceded in death by his parents, John S. Shea, Jr. and Nina Dooley Shea as well as his older brother John S. Shea III and niece Antonia Kies. He is survived by his sister MaryAnn Kies of Long Beach, CA, brother William P. Shea of Monroe, GA and Patrick Shea of Monroe, NY as well as 12 nieces and nephews including Jon Kies (CA), Lt. Col. USMC Ret Michael Kies (VA), Susan Ann Davis (GA), John Shea (FL), Theresa Connell (AL), Patrick Shea (FL), Tara Shea (FL), along with Joseph, William (Wes), Chelsea, Chloe and John (Jack) Shea all of Monroe, New York. At the time of his death, Joe remained editor-in-chief of "The American Report," the first daily Internet newspaper, which launched in 1995. His substantial career in journalism began when Joe covered the Harlem riots on April 4, 1968, the night Martin Luther King, Jr. died. Joe submitted his first article - written in longhand - to the "Village Voice," the beginning of a career that would span nearly five decades and earn him a Pulitzer Prize nomination. Joe was also proud to work for the "Times Herald-Record," where he was mentored by Chris Farlakas, who died last year after serving nearly five decades with the publication. At the age of 20, Joe was featured on the inside cover of "Reader's Digest" with an essay he'd penned about turning his life around, one hour and one day at a time. An article in the digest inspired him to become more active in school politics and pursue a burgeoning passion for writing. With a thirst for adventure and seeing the world, Joe served as freelance war correspondent in Northern Ireland, India, Vietnam and the Philippines for the "Village Voice" and learned how to spark change with his words. While on assignment in 1972, Joe showed up unannounced to visit his brother Patrick at An Son Airbase in Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam - an active combat zone - for a quick visit en route from India. Several years later, Joe's article on Patrick Delaney, President Gerald Ford's nominee to the Securities Exchange Commission in 1976, led to withdrawal of the nomination based on reported stock fraud and inconsistencies in Delaney's resume. Joe's subsequent work at "Esquire" magazine led to the publication of the regular "Reckless Advice" feature and a book by Lee Eisenberg, writer and producer for TV and film. His illustrious journalism career also featured publications including the "Los Angeles Times," "Los Angeles Daily News," "San Francisco Chronicle," and "Argosy" magazine, among others. Using his flair for the written word to help save Pan Am while serving as executive speech writer consultant at Lockheed Corporation, Joe wrote key speeches that were broadcast nationally - bolstering the company in its attempt to make an $800 million deal for the L1011 passenger jet. In addition, Joe won the Greater Los Angeles Press Club's First Prize for the Best Internet News Story of 2000, revealing a pyramid scheme; the investigative piece was instrumental to securing no-contest pleas from perpetrators of the infamous multimillion-dollar "Family & Friends" fraud. Showing his flair for creativity and love of the Bard, Joe wrote a collection of Shakespearean sonnets, "A Native Music," that was published in 1989. He appeared at the Zephyr Theater in Los Angeles for three weeks to read from the collection. Joe also performed in the original Brooklyn Academy of Music production of Robert Wilson's opera, "The Life and Times of Joseph Stalin." A lifelong Bob Dylan fan, Joe was thrilled with the songwriter's recent Nobel Prize for Literature. Never one to back down from a challenge, Joe was a plaintiff in a landmark First Amendment case, Shea v Reno, which concluded with the Communications Decency Act, focusing on the unconstitutionality of Internet censorship. He considered winning the lawsuit his greatest achievement; the ruling was later affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Joe was featured on "A Day in the Life of the Internet" for his willingness to stand up to the Clinton administration regarding censorship law. Dedicated to the communities he lived and worked in, Joe's community activism extended to leadership of the Ivar Hawks Neighborhood Watch, which focused on reducing violent crime in Hollywood. His work for the organization was recognized as a national model for Neighborhood Watch. Joe was recognized by both the Los Angeles Police Department and national groups for his efforts on crime reduction. He served as president of Ivar Hill Community Association in Hollywood for 13 years; the nonprofit provided food and holiday gifts for more than 7,000 children living below the poverty line during Joe's tenure. This work was featured in television documentaries by CNN, Fox News and more. Most recently, Joe volunteered for the Manatee County Florida Democratic Party. Joe attended the University of Oklahoma, Orange County Community College in Middletown, N.Y., and Antioch College in Columbia, MD. He lived in Beverly Hills and Hollywood for 26 years until moving to Florida in 2003. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, October 24 at Sacred Heart Chapel, Stage Road, Monroe, NY. Viewing will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, October 23 at Flynn Funeral & Cremation Memorial Centers, Inc., located at 139 Stage Road, Monroe, New York 10950. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted Thomas F. Flynn and the staff of Flynn Funeral & Cremation Memorial Centers, Inc for directions to the funeral home, Sacred Heart Chapel or to offer an online memorial please visit www. flynnfh.com