Dr. Donald E.G. Shaw

Villanova Professor Emeritus Donald E. Shaw, 74, died at home June 13, 2014, after a long struggle with lymphoma. A 45-year resident of King of Prussia, he had taught in the Physics Department of Villanova University for 40 years, retiring in 2009 as his illness worsened.Dr. Shaw was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada to W. Edward and H. Mabel Shaw. He graduated from Glebe Collegiate and went on to the University of Toronto where he received his BSc., MA and PhD degrees in physics. He emigrated to the U. S. in 1967 to work in the space sciences program at what was then the General Electric Space Center in King of Prussia. He went to Villanova in 1969 to fulfill his dream of teaching physics at the college level. There, he created many lab manuals and introduced the practice of using PCs to collect data in student labs.Until his illness prevented him, Don enjoyed many outdoor activities with his family: hiking, biking, camping, canoeing, ice skating and cross country skiing. He and his family traveled extensively throughout the US and Canada. Indoors, he enjoyed working with computers and reading, but his real passion was model railroading. Over a period of close to 40 years in his basement workroom, he created a world from the 1950s, whose operations were entertaining for kids from toddlers to seniors.Don is survived by his loving wife, Joan M. (Gummett) Shaw; sons, Ian (Kathy), Roanoke, VA and William (Erika), Anacortes, WA; three grandchildren: Jacob, Henry and Virginia; and a brother, W. David (Carol), Inglewood, ON, Canada.A memorial service will be held at The Bacchi Funeral Home & Crematory, Ltd., 805 DeKalb St., Bridgeport, PA on June 30, 2014 at 11 a.m., with a visitation time beforehand beginning at 9 a.m.Memorial contributions may be made to lymphoma research through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 555 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428 or to the National Park Foundation, www.nationalparks.org. to support parks.www.bacchifuneralhome.com