John and Dorothy Shea, longtime benefactors of Loyola Marymount University and the School of Education, received the SOE Educators of the Year Award in a ceremony on the LMU campus on April 29. The SOE Educator of the Year Award is presented to individuals who, through their contributions to and advocacy of the field of education, have exhibited a lifelong commitment to enriching the lives of youth. Past recipients of this award include former Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent, Governor Roy Romer, and Father Greg Boyle. Shane P. Martin, dean and professor of the School of Education remarked, “I’m so aware of how their work and their philanthropy has touched the lives of so many individuals, particularly Catholic school teachers that have come through our program at Loyola Marymount.”
The Shea’s, who have supported SOE’s Partners in Los Angeles Catholic Education (PLACE) Corps, the Catholic Archdiocesan School Teachers (CAST) program and the Center for Catholic Education, were also presented with honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees by President David W. Burcham to recognize their longstanding support for the university. “Through John and Dorothy Shea the Catholic education system has found friends and trusted advocates who support its work teaching Christian values and providing quality education to low income, inner city youth,” Burcham said.
John F. Shea is chairman of the J.F. Shea group of companies, which was founded in 1881 by his grandfather, John F. Shea, in Portland, Oregon. Shea has been recognized several times for his charitable work and contributions to the Catholic Church. He is a Knight of Malta, Knight Commander in the Order of St. Gregory and he received the Cardinal’s Award from Cardinal Roger M. Mahony in 1996. His wife, Dorothy Babbitt Shea graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from LMU in 1959. She is a former LMU regent (1991-94), former trustee (1998-2003) and current member of the School of Education’s Board of Visitors. She formerly served as a member of the Partners in Los Angeles Catholic Education (PLACE) Corps Board, the Chancellor’s Council, the Campaign Steering Committee and the Task Force on Campus Life for the Commission on the Future of LMU. In 1992, she was awarded the LMU Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to the Community. In later years, with the creation of the Shea Family Trust, John and Dorothy Shea have dedicated themselves to philanthropic work. The thrust of their efforts has been to support inner-city Catholic schools. Additionally, they have been loyal benefactors to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels and the Catholic Education Foundation, among many other charities.
