Robert W. Shadd, 86, a prominent Rhode Island attorney, former President of the Barrington Town Council and for many years Town Moderator, died on June 10, 2009 after a short illness. Mr. Shadd had been a Rhode Island resident since 1950.
In 1957, he became a partner in the then Hinckley, Allen, Tillinghast and Wheeler law firm and until his retirement in 1988, was a partner in the New England Regional law firm of Hinckley, Allen and Snyder. He was a member of the American, Rhode Island and Bristol County Bar Associations and a member of the National Panel (R.I. advisor) of the American Arbitration Association. Mr. Shadd was well known for his legal acumen, dedication to community, charitable work, and humor. He represented many Rhode Island concerns, often applying his light approach to difficult situations. “His good natured personality was a major asset in labor contract negotiations,” said a close friend and associate.
Born in Chicago in 1923, he was the son of the late Harold C. and Josephine (Olson) Shadd. Growing up, he was active in the Boy Scouts, achieving Eagle rank. A 1947 graduate of the University of Michigan and a 1950 graduate of its law school, he was elected associate editor of the Law Review and a member of the Barristers Senior Honor Society. During World War II, he served with Army Ordinance in the China-Burma-India Theater.
Mr. Shadd was a popular figure in Barrington politics for many years, serving two stints as moderator from 1962 to 1966 and again from 1972 to 1988. In the interim, he was elected president of the Town Council for four years, from 1966 to 1970, and served as chairman of the Barrington Charter Commission from 1970 to 1972. He also served as a member of the Republican Town Committee. At the 1988 Town Meeting, he was named Moderator Emeritus by acclamation. If politics became an abiding interest for him, charitable and religious activities were an equal if not greater part of his life. He was Senior Warden of St. John's Episcopal Church in Barrington and a member of the Standing Committee and the Commission on Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island. He served as Vice Chairman of the Episcopal Charities Fund and as Trustee and President of St. Andrew's School in Barrington. He was longtime chairman of the Committee on Canons of the Episcopal Diocese. He also made significant contributions to the state and local YMCA's. He was a founding member, Building Committee chairman, director, and chairman of the Barrington Branch and a director and trustee of the Greater Providence YMCA. He was the president of Family Service, Inc. and a national director of the Family Service Association of America. Former Rhode Island Gov. John Chaffee named Mr. Shadd a member of the first comprehensive Health Planning Council of R.I. and chairman of the Governor's Commission on Mental Retardation. Mr. Shadd served in numerous civic and corporate capacities including corporation member of R.I. Hospital (Lifespan), St. Mary's Home, Butler Health Center and member of the R. I. Municipal Chief Executives Association. He was a director of R.I. Textile Co., RITCO Realty Co., Cooley, Inc., Orchard Mfg. Co., The Standard Nut and Bolt Co., C.I. Hayes, Inc., Belon Chemical Co., and Modern Shoe Stores Co. He was a member of the Barrington Yacht Club, the former Turks Head Club, and the University Club.
He was married for 40 years to the late Karene Vollrath Shadd and is survived by his second wife, Catherine Hill Stewart Shadd; two daughters, Deborah A. Shadd (wife of William R. Grimm) of Cohasset, MA and Catherine Shadd Rosenfeld (wife of Dov Rosenfeld) of Oakland, CA; a stepson, David E. Stewart of Tiverton, RI; five grandchildren and three step-grandchildren. He was also the father of the late Jonathan V. Shadd.
The funeral will be held on Monday, June 15, in St. John's Episcopal Church ( 191 County Road, Barrington) at 11:00AM. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Middlebury College for the Jonathan V. Shadd 78 Memorial Scholarship Fund (Gift Administration, 5 Court St., Middlebury, VT 05753-6014) or the National Kidney Foundation (30 E. 33rd St., New York, NY 10016).
Published by The Providence Journal on June 13, 2009.