Richard Shanahan Obituary, Death – Dr. Richard (Dick) J. Shanahan passed away on July 9, 2023, in Waterbury Hospital, surrounded by his devoted family members at the time of his passing. Dick was born in Waterbury, CT on December 30, 1932, to the late Dr. Daniel and Cecilia (Freeman) Shanahan. He went to Salem Elementary School and then on to Sacred Heart High School, where he served as captain of the swim team and helped lead it to many state titles under the direction of Coach Jim Farrar. He also attended Salem Elementary School. In 1956, he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Georgetown University, and the following year, in 1957, he wed his high school girlfriend,
Margaret (Hurley). and then went on to serve as the Dental Director of the 85th Air Division in Virginia and North Carolina while holding the rank of Captain in the United States Air Force Dental Corps for a period of two years. In 1960, he earned a Certificate in Orthodontics from Loyola Dental School, Chicago. Dick established his medical practice in Waterbury, Connecticut, in 1960, and he served the community there with humility for the next 54 years. His patients had nothing but praise for him.
He was recognized by the Dental Society of Greater Waterbury with two awards—the Daniel F. Lynch award and the A. Howard McLaughlin award—in recognition of the exceptional achievements he had made to the field of dentistry during his time as a member of that organization.On Thursday, July 13, 2023, visitation will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Alderson-Ford Funeral Home in Naugatuck, which is located at 201 Meadow St. On Friday, July 14, 2023, at ten in the morning, a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Francis of Assisi, which is located in Naugatuck. It has been requested that all of the friends get together at the church immediately. After the funeral, the burial will take place at St. James Cemetery.
