By Jacquie Rath
Shannon was born in Ft. Hamilton, Brooklyn and moved to Rockville Centre as an infant. He graduated from SUNY at New Paltz with a degree in elementary education, followed by a Masters in administration, earned at Hofstra University. Always striving to improve as an educator, he did additional graduate work over the years at New York University, Brooklyn Law School, Barry University, University of Florida and completed all coursework for a Doctoral degree at Nova University.
During the Korean War he was a special agent for the U.S. Army Counter-Intelligence Corp. stationed in Ft. Lewis, Washington.
Upon returning to Rockville Centre, he became a volunteer fireman and started his teaching career at Watson Elementary School, where he met his future wife, Arlene Slattery, a fellow teacher. They married at St. Agnes Cathedral, where he had been an altar boy, on July 4, 1958, and had three children: Patricia, Kerri and Bridgette.
Heartache followed after learning that Kerri had Cystic Fibrosis. In 1967, the family moved permanently to Miami Shores, hoping that the climate would help their daughter. Shannon became a dedicated worker for the National Cystic Fibrosis Association, where he lectured as a member of the Board of Directors. Kerri was the national Cystic Fibrosis poster child, but sadly passed away in 1973.
Shannon had a life-long love affair with under-privileged, inner-city children. He devoted his entire academic career to the most needy schools, bringing them to higher standards. He often said that "...to teach children to think takes knowledge, to teach children to appreciate takes creativity, and to teach children to love takes guidance." He hoped to accomplish all of this in his schools, not only to help each child attain the minimal, if that is his potential, but also the maximum, by offering programs that are challenging to all. Shannon kept his schools in the top 15 of Dade County until he retired in the 1990s.
His work was rewarded with many awards from the school district, the PTA, parents and by the students, who planted a tree for their beloved principal.
Shannon and his wife, a professor at Barry University in Miami, were avid sports fans, playing golf and keeping season seats to watch the Miami Dolphins play, but also remained faithful to their favorite baseball team, the New York Mets. They loved to travel and made many trips all over the world. Their love of teaching and academics continued and they both gave lectures in Florida schools and as far away as San Francisco and southern Colorado.
Shannon was loved and respected for his excellence and dedication as a teacher. An old-fashioned romantic, he was a gifted storyteller with a good Irish sense of humor. Above all, his greatest gift was his compassionate, caring and encouraging way of speaking to children on their own level, inspiring them to learn and develop their talents to become successful in life.
He is pre-deceased by his wife, Arlene Shannon; daughter, Kerri Shannon; his parents, Helen and Edward Shannon; and his brother George Shannon. In addition to his brother Ed Shannon and his sister-in-law, Judy Shannon, he is survived by his daughters Patricia Shannon, M.D., of Hopewell Junction, N.Y. and Bridgette Nivera of Lagrangeville, N.Y.; sisters, Genevieve Tyler, of Fairfax, Ca., and Patricia Odermatt of Rockville Centre; five grandchildren, Evan and Keara Imbriglio and Joseph, Natalia and Isabella Rivera; dozens of nieces and nephews and many life-long friends.
Services were held in Miami Shores. He was buried in Our Lady of Mercy Cemetery with his wife and daughter. Personal condolences may be sent via www.Herald.com/obit.
