Obituary: Jonathon Paige Shea, 1958-2024

Jonathon
Paige Shea, known affectionately as Jon or Jonny, passed away on
August 28, 2024, at the age of 65 in Fayston, Vt. Born in Montpelier,
Vt., Jon was a lifelong resident of the state he loved and a sixth
generation Vermonter.

Jon
was a graduate of Montpelier High School and later earned a bachelor
of science in business administration from the University of Vermont.
His professional life was marked by his significant role as vice
president at Paige and Campbell Insurance Agency, a company founded
by his great-grandfather, Charles Coburn Paige, in 1906, where he
also achieved the designation of chartered property casualty
underwriter.

Beyond
his professional endeavors, Jon was deeply involved in his community.
He served as the chair of the Fayston Development Review Board for
many years and was a previous board member of Barre Area Development.
He was also a member of the Lake Mansfield Trout Club and served on
the insurance committee. His community involvement was not only
reflective of his areas of expertise but also his commitment to the
growth and development of the state that he loved and a rural way of
life.

Jon
was characterized by those who knew him as intelligent, proud,
adventurous, ambitious and funny. He cherished the opportunity to
meet new people and learn new things and was an avid storyteller. He
was known for regaling others with tales of his past adventures. He
was an avid biker, hiker, skier and lover of the outdoors. In his
younger years, he went on trail runs up Hedgehog Brook trail to Burnt
Rock Mountain, mountain biking, backcountry tele skiing and cat
skiing at Island Lake Lodge in British Columbia. In his later years,
he slowed down a bit and enjoyed long walks to Boyce Forest, hiking
and skiing at Mad River Glen, or just sitting peacefully by the
Shepard Brook in his backyard on the bench made for him by his
son-in-law. He was a big foodie. He loved trading recipes with family
members and trying new foods, and he was an amazing cook, something
he got from his mom, who taught him to cook at a young age. His
homemade pasta was legendary among friends and family. Everyone had
their special requests when coming to dinner at the Sheas’ —
trotolle in a cream sauce with ham and peas, pesto pasta made with
basil grown in his garden, and, of course, his famous sesame noodles.
He loved traveling. After he graduated college, he traveled across
the country to Aspen, Colo., where he stayed the winter to ski and
then hitchhiked to the Grand Canyon on a camping trip. He traveled
all over the world, including Costa Rica, the Caribbean, the French
Alps, Italy, Scotland and Hong Kong, and even visited his daughter,
Caty, while she served in the Peace Corps in rural China on the edge
of the Gobi Desert.

He
is survived by his daughters, Caitlin “Caty” Shea and her wife,
Mara-Louise Shea; and Kelsey Shea, her husband, Kyle Brown, and their
young son, Cooper James Brown. He is also survived by siblings
Steven, Brenda, Brian and Lynne Shea. Jon was preceded in death by
his parents, Harold “Mike” P. Shea and Claire M. Shea.

Details
of a memorial service will be determined and announced at a later
date. Jon’s life and legacy will be remembered fondly by all who knew
him.

Arrangements
are in the care of Pruneau-Polli Funeral Home, 58 Summer St., Barre,
VT.

Those
wishing to express online condolences may do so at
pruneaupollifuneralhome.com.

This article appears in Aug 28 – Sep 3, 2024.