Henry J. Shachoy, 81
Dateline: Plainville, MA
Henry J. “Hank” Shachoy, age 81, of Plainville, formerly of Mansfield, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 18, 2021 at the Hope Health Hospice Center in Providence. He was the husband and best friend of Cathleen Burt Shachoy.
Born in Fort Benning, Georgia on January 1, 1940, he was a loving son of the late Mark and Alice M. (Smith) Shachoy.
Hank Grew up in Fitchburg, MA and graduated from Fitchburg High School where he participated in several varsity sports. He was a proud member of the Class of 1958 and enjoyed reuniting with his classmates throughout the years
After graduating from high school, he served in the marines and was a veteran of the Vietnam war. After serving his country, he returned to Fitchburg and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Fitchburg State College.
Mr. Shachoy taught 9th grade science for one year in Boston. He was then hired to teach science at Norwood Junior High South and then was transferred to Norwood High School. He was both loved and respected by all of his students for his knowledge of Science, but more importantly, they knew that he enjoyed seeing them each day and cared about them as individuals. He had that great balance of making learning fun and being able to handle “ninth grade behavior issues” with fairness and without being confrontational.
Hank was also a three-sport high school coach. He coached soccer both at the youth and high school levels in Needham. At Norwood High school he was the varsity Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Coach. His athletes referred to him as “Hanko”. He coached many league and state champions while using his expertise and sense of humor to provide a positive experience for every member of every team that he coached.
In addition to his wife Cathy, he is survived by his beloved daughter Keryn Theresa Shachoy. He was predeceased by his son James Henry Shachoy. He is the brother of Charlotte Damon, the late Gloria Gammel, Joyce Wirtz Browdy, and Nancy Shachoy Diaz. He also is uncle to many nieces and nephews.
He will be missed by his many friends at the Plainville Senior Citizen’s Center, Sharon Country Club and all of the people who he taught and coached with, as well as his high school and college classmates and fraternity brothers.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend visiting hours on Friday, September 24th from 5:00-8:00 P.M. at the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home, 55 North Main Street, Mansfield.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, September 25th at 10:00 A.M. in Saint Mary’s Church, 330 Pratt Street (Route 106) Mansfield. Military honors will be rendered at the conclusion of services. Burial will take privately, at a later date, at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Hank’s memory may be made to People Incorporated, 4 South Main Street, Fall River, MA02721.
To send his family a message of condolence, please visit www.shermanjackson.com