Michael Shea Obituary

Dr. Michael Anthony Shea, who delivered more than 2,500 babies while treating thousands of women during a 35-year career as an obstetrician and gynecologist in San Jose, passed away on Sept. 11, 2023, at Good Samaritan Hospital, where he once practiced.After he retired in 2005, Mike helped capture the history of medicine in the Santa Clara Valley, co-authoring books such as "From Medicine Man to Medical Doctor, and "Memorable Moments in Medicine," vignettes about medicine in the area.A tireless student of California history and a lifelong fishing enthusiast with a wry wit, he wrote or co-authored numerous other history-related essays and booklets, plus "The Adventures of Tommy Trout," a children's book adapted from stories he told his children as they grew up.He was born in Atchison, KS, on Aug. 11, 1939. When he was three, his family moved to San Mateo, CA. Then, in 1948, to San Jose, where he attended St. Leo's Grammar School, playing basketball, serving as president of his eighth grade class, and becoming an Eagle Scout.Ever industrious, at 13 Mike took a job delivering the San Jose Mercury-News. He was named Carrier-of-the-Year and attended the California Newspaper Publishers' Convention.He spent his high school years at Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, where he was a sprinter on the track team, wrote sports stories for the newspaper and short stories and poems for the high school's journal, and was a member of the debate team. He graduated in 1957.In 1956, while he was at Bellarmine, Mike met Marilyn Ann Wilson, a student at San Jose's Notre Dame High School. It was the start of a 67-year love affair that led to their marriage in 1962 followed by the births of their three children.After high school he attended Santa Clara University, majoring in biology with a minor in philosophy. From there he enrolled in medical school at the University of California at San Francisco. At UCSF, Mike, a member of Phi Chi medical fraternity, earned partial scholarships and worked part-time as a medical technician, graduating in 1964.In medical school he joined the Navy Reserves, graduated from UCSF and worked as an intern at Balboa U.S. Naval Hospital, San Diego. Then he served as a General Medical Officer, first on the USS Sperry, a submarine tender, and, in his third and final year of active duty, at the Naval Training Center at San Diego.His active military duty completed, he launched his private medical career with a three-year OB/GYN residency at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Then in 1970 he joined an OB/GYN practice with Dr. Leon Fox and Dr. Merlin Johnson, working at O'Connor Hospital and San Jose Hospital. In 1980 he moved to a practice near Good Samaritan Hospital. He retired from private practice in 2000, but worked part-time until 2005 at the OB/GYN clinic at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.Some of Mike's other notable contributions during his medical career: Chairman of the OB/GYN Department of San Jose Hospital; consultant for Stanford Medical School, which took over the OB/GYN residency program at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in 1970; president of the Shufelt Gynecological Society of Santa Clara County in 1980; and leader of a committee that founded the first alternative birth center in San Jose. In 2003, he received an honorary faculty award from Stanford.Busy as he was, medicine never pulled Mike away from his other passions. Fishing was number one, especially in the Sierras at Lake Tahoe and on the Carson River. He started fishing there with his father and brother and never stopped, introducing his sons and other relatives and friends to the river's magic. In recent years he fished the Deschutes River in Oregon with his son Matt. A few years ago, his children honored him by placing a plaque engraved with his name at Taylor Creek in South Lake Tahoe with the inscription "For His Love of the Stream."He was a San Francisco Giants and 49ers fan, often saying he inherited the 49er "gene" from his father. As a season ticket holder, he received Christmas cards from the team, which he displayed prominently in his and Marilyn's family room after adding a fake note from Coach Bill Walsh thanking him for sending plays the team used that season.For three decades he took adult education classes on California history and other topics. He served on the California Pioneer Board of Santa Clara County for years.Music was another interest. He started with the violin when he was nine and sang and played the guitar in later years, founding the choir at the 8:30 a.m. mass at St. Anthony's Church in Almaden. He was the music minister at St. Anthony's from 1980 until 2010. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Cletus William Shea and Florence Elizabeth Shea Tochilin, of San Jose, and his sister, Colleen Anne Shea, of South Lake Tahoe. Mike is survived by his wife, Marilyn; their three children, Marchael Shea, of Bend, OR, Matthew Shea (Rosa), of Bend, OR., and Michael Shea (Lori), of Folsom, CA.; his brother Terry Shea (Susan), of Leawood, KS, and his sister Karen Duncan (Andy), of Eugene, OR; three grandchildren, Marissa, Dylan and Brady Shea; his mother-in-law; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; and many loving nieces and nephews.A celebration of life will be held at a later date.