H. James Shea Jr.


Herman James "Jim" Shea Jr. was an American politician from the state of Massachusetts. A resident of Newton for most of his life, he graduated from Tufts University and, after dropping out of the University of Virginia School of Law, found employment as a civil engineer, real estate broker, and university instructor. A progressive member of the Democratic Party, he served on the Newton Board of Aldermen as well as in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
From his election to the House in 1968, freshman legislator Shea engaged in activism against the Vietnam War and supported the burgeoning modern environmental movement. A bill he sponsored, which later bore his name, exempted Massachusetts residents from being conscripted into federal service in undeclared foreign conflicts. While it passed the legislature and was signed into law by Governor Francis Sargent, the Supreme Court in Massachusetts v. Laird declined to hear the state's challenge the war's constitutionality.
Already feeling overworked soon after he entered the legislature, Shea was frequently asked to speak and floated as a candidate for higher office. Succumbing to what his wife described as "political pressures," he committed suicide by gunshot at the age of 30.

Early life and family

Childhood and education

Shea was born on December 10, 1939 in Boston, Massachusetts, the first of three sons of Eileen and Herman James Shea Sr.. His father was a civil engineer and member of the faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
He grew up in Newton and attended public schools there, including Newton High School, from which he graduated in 1957. He then went on to Tufts University, where he earned a degree in political science, with a minor in economics; he attended the University of Virginia School of Law, following this, but left after completing 34 credit hours. Before devoting himself to politics full-time, he was employed as civil engineer and real estate broker. He also completed graduate work and served as a teaching assistant in political science at Northeastern University.

Marriage

In 1967, Shea married the former Anita Vesta McDonald, an instructor at Salem State College, at Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Plainfield, New Jersey. The couple settled in Newton after a honeymoon through New England and Canada.

Political career

Local politics

Shea first ran for an at-large seat on the Newton Board of Aldermen in 1963. In a race for two spots from Ward 7, he ran on a progressive platform that included providing public records of board attendance and activities. He placed a distant fourth among the candidates.
In 1965, he ran again, this time for the Ward 7 seat being vacated by incumbent William Carmen, and initially came in 8 votes behind Boston University professor Harry H. Crosby. After a recount, Shea was given 961 votes to Crosby's 958 and was declared winner.

State politics and anti-war activism

He was opposed to the Vietnam War, and he drafted a bill challenging its constitutionality, thus enabling Massachusetts residents to ignore the draft.

Death and funeral

On May 8, 1970, Shea and his wife went to the home of John M. McDonnell, a Newton alderman and friend, where they spent the evening socializing. Upon returning to their residence on Princess Road in West Newton, Shea committed suicide by gunshot in front of his wife at approximately 12:30 the following morning. He had reportedly been under "political pressure" at the time. After Shea's wife phoned McDonnell, who called the police, Shea was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival at 12:55.
Attendees at the funeral included U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy, Congressman Philip J. Philbin, and Massachusetts Attorney General Robert H. Quinn.

Legacy

Businessman Robert Kraft was elected chairman of the Newton City Democratic Committee in 1968. The death of Shea, a friend, deterred Kraft from further pursuing a career in politics, including a 1970 congressional run.