John E. Shaw Jr., a resident of Barrington, NH passed away peacefully at home on March 10 from chronic heart disease. He was 81.
He was born in 1943 at Boston City Hospital. Son of the late John E. Shaw Sr. and Phylis (Moore) Shaw. He was raised and educated in Somerville, MA. After graduating from Somerville High School in 1961, he attended the Wentworth Institute where he received his associate degree as a machinist and metallurgy. He then joined his father at the John E. Shaw Co. in Derry, NH, producing precision metal products and parts for manufacturing customers. He became the owner when his father retired and would remain there until 1994.
John married Helen Welch in 1964, and they moved to Derry. They had two children, but Helen tragically passed away from cancer in 1968. John would marry three more times, the last to "the love of my life", Janet (Fellows) Shaw, in 1990. After residing in East Derry, NH for a number of years, they relocated to their present home in Barrington, which after John purchased and made numerous improvements to, he referred to as his "Shan-gra-li".
John had many hobbies and interests over the course of his life, which kept him active and occupied. He enjoyed riding his Harley-Davidson all over the United States and was president of the Manchester Motorcycle Club for years. He was an outdoorsman who hunted and fished, and he was president of the Derry Sportsmen's Association and treasurer for the Derry Sportsmen's Realty Association. He truly loved collecting, displaying and competitively shooting firearms. He was a lifetime member of the NRA, treasurer of the Major Waldron's Sportsman Club in Lee, NH, and was an NRA certified instructor in basic pistol, rifle and shotgun and outdoor range officer. He spent many years teaching firearm safety at the club.
Other hobbies that John loved, and shared with others, included model trains, remote controlled boats and cars, potato guns, being out on Swains Lake in his many watercrafts, traveling all over New England with Janet in the Mustang and the Slingshot, growing flowers and vegetables, woodworking and sign crafting. He also owned and operated Eagle Sports Shop and Fun Time Photo in Derry. Anything that intrigued his mind made him want to try it and master it, but more often than not moving on when another endeavor piqued his curiosity.
John's true passion was people and his relationships with them. He loved having family and friends near and entertained anyone who came to the home with grace, warmth and hospitality. He and Janet hosted many birthday parties, holidays get-togethers and neighborhood gatherings at their house, sharing everything they had, with John handling sometimes two grills at once. John loved a warm laugh, a good story and a great meal with anyone and everyone, and more often than not they became friends for life and were encouraged to return time and time again... which they would, much to his delight.
Besides Janet and his beloved dachshund Abby, he is survived by his sister, Deanna Butler of Derry, his son, Dean Winter of Newmarket, his daughter Lauri Nelsen and her husband, Michael of Kittery, ME, his grandchildren Ashley Pouliot and her husband, Shane of Moultonboro, Dylan Winter and his wife Kat Fondo of Lowell, MA, Devyn Winter and her wife Meg of Kittery, ME, Douglas Winter of Concord, NH, Mark Winter of Hopkinton, NH, and Kathryn Winter of Albuquerque, NM, his estranged children John III and Debra, as well as many nieces, nephews and great grandchildren. He was sadly predeceased by his son Dale Winter and granddaughter Jennifer Therrien.
Calling hours will be on Tuesday March 18, 2025 from 3 – 6pm at the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch Street, Derry.