Newspaper icon dies in Halifax

I knew and admired Harold Shea. He was not born in Liverpool, but he made a close connection when he married a Liverpool girl, Elva (Blanche) Westhaver, and spent many weekends through the early years, at Elva's family home in Liverpool.

Harold Thomas Shea passed away on Oct. 23, 2006, at 83 years of age. Born July 20, 1923, in Halifax, he was the son of the late Harold and Mary (Bottomley) Shea.

He served in the Second World War, initially in the RCASC, the switched to the Royal Canadian Air Force to train for aircrew. He flew in Bomber Command with the Royal Air Force Nighthawks and RCAF Ghost Squadron. In May 1945, he was assigned to the RCAF Tiger Squadron for service in the Pacific, but the squadron disbanded while he was in training, when the Japanese surrendered.

Shea was educated in Saint Patrick's Boy's High School, Halifax.

He joined the Halifax Herald in 1945 as a proof reader and cub reporter and served with the Herald for 50 years; 39 years (1945 to 1983) as a permanent staffer; 1983-95 as a columnist and freelance writer, while operating his own news and writing company called SHEA-NEWS. He continued to write for commercial, seniors and veteran's publications. At the Herald, he served as business, legislative, marine and shipping reporter.

After eight years as editor (city, provincial, editorial pages), he became Parliamentary Correspondent in Ottawa, National Affairs writer, Canadian-American Affairs writer.

He covered the sealing of the Berlin Wall, NATO Defense conferences overseas, and numerous assignments in the Middle East — oil crises and Israeli-Arab tensions, off shore oil development off Britain: trade with the West Indies; seven years as the United Nations correspondent with Specialty Law of the Sea, World Health, and plight of developing countries.

He became editorial writer again in 1977 and the same year Editor-in-Chief of the Chronicle Herald and Mail Star and vice-president of the company for personnel and editorial training.

Harold Shea retired at age 60, in 1983, but was contracted as a columnist.

He served as Vice-President Canadian Managing Editor's Association, Secretary of the National Press Gallery, Director of Canadian Press, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the National Press Council. He was cited for his writings on the plight of unwanted children in Nova Scotia, the seven-year coverage of the United Nations Law of the Sea Conferences (1970-1977) in Geneva, New York and Caracas, and a series on the economy centered around the coal industry in Cape Breton. Shea was a part-time lecturer in King's College School of Journalism. He was a past president of the Charitable Irish Association of Halifax, editor of the Northwood Generations magazine, member of the board of directors of Northwood Incorporated, The Walter Callow Wheelchair Bus League, to name only a few.

He was active in Veteran's Affairs, joined the Vimy Branch, Royal Canadian Legion in 1983, and served as a chairman of publicity, honors and awards and was editor of the Torch, Nova Scotia's Legion newspaper. He was awarded the Legion's highest honor, the Meritorious Service Medal in 1994.

Harold had many other affiliations that covered nearly all the charitable organizations that you may visualize.

Harold is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Elva Blanche (Westhaver) Shea; daughter Margaret Swire, Halifax; three grand children and seven great-grand children; brothers, Frank and Mike, Halifax. Sisters: Joan Martin, Halifax; Stella Hoadley, Lakeside and Theresa Bowden, Halifax.

Harold was predeceased by brothers, Gerald, Kenneth, Bill and George.

I will miss him!