George R. Shea, of East Longmeadow, passed peacefully on Thursday, January 14, 2021 with his loving family at his side. George was born in Springfield on February 25, 1932 and resided on Hungry Hill until moving to East Longmeadow in 2006. He was the son of the late Thomas P. Shea, Sr. and Hannah (Moriarty) Shea who immigrated to Springfield from County Kerry, Ireland. He graduated from Cathedral High School in 1950 and went to work at the American Bosch before enlisting in the Army during the Korean War in 1952 where he honorably served as a Corporal. He entered Bentley College of Accounting in 1955. After graduating, he worked for the Department of Revenue (DOR) for the next 39 years. George mentored many employees at the DOR inculcating them in tax law and the finer points of accounting. His open door policy encouraged co-workers to collaborate, and debate the grey areas of tax law. He retired in September of 1996 as a Supervisor of Special Investigation. He also served on the Springfield License Commission from 1973 to 1977. He was an avid golfer and a member of the Springfield Police Gotcha Golf League for over 50 years where he held the office of Treasurer for 20 years. George's love of golf often took him to Myrtle Beach with a fun-loving and crazy group of friends. So many wonderful stories came home with them. George was also a lifetime member of the John Boyle O'Reilly Club where he had the privilege of serving as President and on the Board of Directors for several years. In 2010, George was named the Irish Person of the Year and was a great part of the Holyoke Saint Patrick's Day Parade with his family marching behind the car he and his bride were riding in. George loved anything and everything Irish especially his many trips to Ireland beginning with his and Kathy's honeymoon in 1968. They enjoyed many trips after that with his favorite destination being Dingle, County Kerry. But to be honest, there was no place in Ireland that George didn't love while enjoying a "pint or two". George was a devoted husband, father, papa and friend. His family was his life especially his three red-haired daughters who were the light of his life. He would never miss an opportunity to be in the stands or audience for anything that his children or grandchildren were a part of. George is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Kathleen (Lynch) Shea, his devoted daughters, Mary-Kathleen Finney and her husband, Brady, Maureen Shea and her partner, Shawn, and Christine Garstka and her husband, Timothy; his six wonderful and very special grandchildren whom he loved more that life itself, Keegan and Claire Finney, Daniel and Hannah Kelly, and Andrew and Nolan Garstka; and his many nephews, nieces, cousins, so many friends and extended family members. Besides his parents, George was predeceased by his older siblings, Thomas P. Shea, , Mary "Maisie" McGuire, Irene "Twig" O'Malley, and Edward "Dietz' Shea .