1970
James L. Shea
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four-year PA student, Jim Shea came to Andover from Baltimore in 1966. Deke DiClemente—a beloved coach, teacher, and mentor—called Shea “the finest clutch performer I’ve ever seen.” Shea was captain of the basketball and lacrosse teams his senior year. He was the leading lacrosse scorer that year and held the basketball team together through a challenging winter. As a senior, Shea was selected by The Phillipian as Athlete of the Year “for his strong performances and determination in lacrosse, soccer, and basketball. Shea provided the necessary enthusiasm, desire, and ability to lead the teams to successful seasons.” Shea also received the Schubert Key—awarded to Andover’s finest athlete—and the Yale Bowl. At Princeton University, Shea majored in history, lettered in soccer, and captained the lacrosse team. He won the Higginbotham Trophy, awarded to a senior with the
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most outstanding play, distinguished sportsmanship, and gentlemanly conduct. During his summers, Shea played competitive tennis, achieving a top 20 ranking in Maryland. Shea graduated from Princeton in 1974 and went on to the University of Virginia to earn a law degree. After service as a law clerk to a federal judge and as an assistant in Maryland’s Office of the Attorney General, Shea joined Venable, an AmLaw 100 firm, rose through the ranks to become partner, and served as the firm’s managing partner/chair from 1995 to 2017. Shea is also former chair of the Board of Regents of the University System of Maryland, the Central Maryland Transportation Alliance, the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, and Baltimore’s Empowerment Zone. Shea lives in Owings Mills, Maryland, with his wife of 43 years, Barbara. The couple has four children, one of whom graduated from Andover in 1999.
1970 varsity lacrosse team: Shea is front row, #22.
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