Lawrence Thornton Shields

Newton – Dr. Larry Shields could walk into a social gathering in almost any state, and on at least two continents, and immediately recognize an 'old and dear' friend whose delight in seeing Larry was met equally on the other end. A long and friendly conversation would soon follow.

The lights dimmed a bit on the twelfth of March, 2015 when Lawrence Thornton Shields, M.D. drew his last breath at Newton-Wellesley Hospital following a period of declining health. He was 79.

Ever the story teller, now his must be told . . .

Larry was born in Boston on October 2, 1935, a son of the late George and Catherine (Thornton) Shields, and lived for a time in Charlestown and in Somerville before his family's move to Waltham when he was a child.

Education and sports always being a big part of his life, it was at Saint Mary's in Waltham where his excellence in both got him notice. He was a stand-out football player where he captained the team and also served as president of his high school senior class. His endeavors into baseball as a star pitcher landed him a try-out and a minor league offer with the Boston Red Sox, but it was really his skill on the gridiron and his outstanding academic record that earned him a scholarship to Harvard College in Cambridge following his 1953 graduation from high school.

Larry loved going to Harvard . . . its rich history, its opportunities and its obligations. Although an injury ended his football career in his junior year he continued to excel academically in the pre-med program, graduating in 1957. From there it was off to Baltimore where he was accepted into medical school at Johns Hopkins University, earning his medical degree in 1961.

After that he served his internship and a year of surgical residency at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. In 1963 Larry enlisted in the United States Navy where he served for two years in the medical corps. For thirteen months he was a ship's surgeon aboard the Essex class carrier USS WASP (CVS-18). He completed his military obligation at the Naval Dispensary in Washington, D.C.

While still in the Navy, Larry met his future bride, Kansas native Karen Kraus whose family had moved to Virginia years earlier. While Karen continued to teach school in Arlington, Virginia Larry accepted a residency in orthopaedic surgery at Harvard's teaching hospitals; Children's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, all in Boston. Following his training he stayed at the Brigham where he began his practice and also became a member of Harvard Medical School's faculty.

On September 21, 1968 Larry and Karen were married at Holy Trinity Church in Washington's Georgetown district and the couple soon made their home in Waltham and a year later moved to Newton where they raised their family and have been residents since.

In 1973 Larry established his orthopaedic surgical practice in Waltham and became a member of the staff at Waltham Hospital. He remained active in his practice until illness forced his retirement ten years ago.

Of all the interesting things that he did and the marvelous education that he received it was really the people that he met along life's journey that would bring a smile to his face and a story across his lips. Larry loved history, the opera and science.

He had a wide range of interests and intense curiosity. He was a member and often on the board of many organizations and clubs that reflected those interests, such as the Handel and Haydn Society, The Boston Opera Association, the Algonquin Club of Boston, of which he was a past president, the St. Botolph Club, the Harvard Club, Friends of the BU Library, three gourmet/wine organizations--- Les Amis de Escoffier, the Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs and the Tastevin, the Massachusetts Bay Investment Trust, the Thomas B. Quigley Sports Medicine Society, of which he was a past president, and others.

He was very proud of his Irish heritage and had the opportunity to travel several times to Ireland. He and all his family hold duel Irish-American citizenship. He was a member of the Charitable Irish Society, the Boston Irish Business Association and the Irish American Partnership. But he was also an Anglophile. He attended Tory conventions and was an acquaintance of John Major, took courses at Cambridge University and was a member of the East India Club of London. While in England he was part of a group that founded the Anthony Trollope Society of London and was a member of the board of the American chapter in New York.

Of all the organizations he belonged to the one that he loved best was the Clover Club of Boston. Being president of the club in 2011-2012 was probably the greatest highlight of his life, except for the births of his four children.

He often talked of two important experiences being the bookends of his career and interest in science. On one end, it was the privilege of working with James Dewey Watson, a co-discoverer of the structure of DNA while he was at Harvard College. And, on the other end, it was the honor of meeting and conversing with Stephen Hawking about string theory.

Larry was also an avid collector of clocks, antique documents, and especially books. He owned more than three thousand books. He enjoyed the ocean, sailing and spending time in the family home in Maine. He loved to travel. He and Karen traveled to many places in the United States as well as Europe. Their most memorable trip was to Moscow and Novorossiysk, Russia for the marriage of their oldest daughter.

It was to his family and to his friends however that he reserved his deepest affections. He will long be remembered as a devoted husband, a loving father, a proud grandfather. His patients were the benefactors of his healing touch, his wise counsel and his gentle demeanor. Dr. Larry Shields was proud of his roots and fiercely loyal to those he called friend.

For years he volunteered as the team doctor of Waltham High's football team, becoming not only its physician but its wise elder and mentor. Larry always lived life full tilt and was a glass half-full kind of guy; filled with beaming optimism that the good he found in others always outweighed life's disappointments. His sometimes formal tone never belied the warmth, love, kindness and generosity that were the foundation of his dealings.

Left to mourn his passing is his beloved wife and best friend of forty-six years, Karen Kraus Shields; his children, Elizabeth Shields Sobol and her husband, Yuriy, of Arlington, Virginia, Laura Shields Griffith and her husband, Craig, of Lorton, Virginia, Sarah Daley Shields of Alexandria, Virginia and Michael Lawrence Shields and his wife, Elizabeth Colgan, of Waltham; and his grandchildren, Connor, Charles and Claire Griffith, Collin, Brody and Asher Shields and Ilya Sobol.

Family and friends will honor and remember Larry's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Tuesday, March 17th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Jude Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Newton Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Newton Fire Fighters Association, P.O. Box 600384, Newton, MA 02460.