Richard Shea '46

A native of Hartford, the late Dick Shea holds the distinction of being Prep’s first three-sport standout: in football (halfback), basketball (guard and forward) and baseball (second baseman).

Shea captained the football and basketball teams in his senior year and was selected as an All-District player (from Greenwich to Stratford) in football.  He was also named to Prep’s All-Decade Team (1942-1951) in both basketball and baseball.

Following graduation, Shea played baseball and basketball at Middlebury College, where he captained the baseball team his senior season and earned All Collegiate Vermont team honors. 

During the summers while in high school and college, Shea played Senior City League amateur baseball as well as a short stint with the professional Bridgeport Bees in 1950. He then served with the Army in Korea from 1950-52, playing football and baseball with the 12th Infantry Regiment.

After his time in the military, Shea was a teacher in the Trumbull school system for more than 40 years. He then served as principal for two parochial schools in the Diocese of Bridgeport before retiring in 1999. 

Shea maintained his association with Fairfield Prep by helping to inaugurate – along with Athletic Hall of Famer Emil Garofalo ‘45 and others from Prep’s early graduating classes – the “Latin Scholars” annual alumni Christmas luncheon in 1981. The event has raised more than $100,000 for Prep-related charities.

Shea was deemed “one of the best all-around athletes of his time” when he was honored by the Greater Bridgeport Oldtimers Athletic Association with its Outstanding Achievement Award in 1993.

Shea passed away in 2014.