Stuart Keith Shaw
1951 - 2025
Stuart Keith Shaw, 74, of Lexington, NC, passed away on April 4, 2025. Born in Tupper Lake, NY, he was a graduate of Massena High School and earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Clarkson University, class of 1973.
Stuart “Stu” worked for many years as a protection & controls engineer in the power sector, working primarily in the generation side at various nuclear power facilities across the country. Late in his career, he transitioned into high-power equipment testing as a safety & QA manager.
In his personal time, Stu was a tinkerer and a handyman, pursuing many elaborate DIY projects, the most ambitious of which was constructing a log home in his beloved hometown of Tupper Lake. His knack for fixing things, meticulous attention to detail, and deep desire to give others a helping hand were qualities that he bestowed on his family and friends. He was a self-appointed Constitutional scholar who held a great interest in American history, particularly the Revolutionary and Civil wars. Stu loved to share his knowledge and would talk to anyone who would listen! He enjoyed downhill skiing, classic country music, camping, deer hunting, building model train sets, computer technology, and collecting scale model cars. More recently, he discovered an interest in antique shopping and loved to watch old movies with his wife.
Stu was the devoted, loving husband to Marlene Shaw, (having just celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary); and the very proud father of Samuel Shaw, Andrew Shaw (Kathryn), & Colleen Shaw, (together with their mother, Pamela Shaw); and stepdad to Shannon Kamerman (Bryan), and Allison McLaughlin (Trey). He cherished his grandchildren, Madelyn, Oliver, & Emerie Shaw; Xavier & Lorelei Shaw; Adeline, Zachary, & Maxwell Kamerman, and Killian McLaughlin. He is also survived by his brother, James Shaw (Rebecca); sister, Susan Cooley (Garry); brother, John Shaw (Linda); and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Stu was preceded in death by his parents, Ellen Shaw and James Shaw.
Stu will be remembered for his dedication to his career, his clever, silly sense of humor and quick wit, and his deep love for his family. His legacy of curiosity, problem-solving, and DIY spirit will live on through his family.
A private family memorial will be held at a later date where we will share our love and memories of him. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in his memory to LLS (Leukemia/Lymphoma Society) because of their mission to cure blood cancers or the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home in Winston Salem who so compassionately cared for him in his final days.
Stu will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.
My beloved “bubby”, I miss you so much already. You were the love of my life, and I will love you forever.
Love,
Your “darling” Marlene
You were such a unique and special man, it was an honor to be your friend!
Cecilia and Don Devine
Dear son-in-law Stu. We miss you already. loved your visits, your kind words and your conversation,. You will be forever in our thoughts and our hearts. R.I.P
Marlene there are no words to comfort you in this time of losing your beloved husband Stu. He had a smile that brighten the room up. Our condolences to you and all the family. Your in my prayers to have the strength to carry on. May Stu RIP with the angels. Hugs prima
Berny and Dave Kerckaert
Marlene there are no words to comfort you at this time of your loss. Our condonlences to you and the families. Stu had smile that would brighten the room. RIP Stu with the angels
You’re in my prayers Marlene. Hugs
Berny and Dave Kerckaert
RIP Stu. Sending hugs to you girlfriend. ❤️. Condolences to the entire family. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Remembering good times in the ‘hood in Tupper Lake. I wish we had stayed in touch more often as adults, but I’m thrilled that we connected this last decade, and I got to meet Marlene. Sending hugs to Marlene and all of Stu’s family. ❤️❤️❤️
What a legacy Stu leaves in his beautiful children, whom he bestowed with his amazing conversational and inquisitive nature. I only know two of his grandchildren well, and I can see why he was so proud of them all. Love and comfort to his family,
The Sawulskis
Stu was my first cousin and our families a grand childhood growing up in the small town of Tupper Lake, NY. We all skied at Big Tupper in the winter and the beach at Little Wolf. Stu reminded me of his father, Jim.
Rest in Heaven now my ever so dearest Stu whom i will forever remember as “Mr Toiletman”. My heart aches for you Marlene. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. In his honor i will leave a warmer on indefinitely. Sending you hugs. i love you Marlene….
Dear Marlene and Family,
I am extremely sorry for all the pain you are all in. This is the most beautiful obituary I’ve ever read. You’re all in my prayers 🙏💐🩵🩵🩵
Marlene, I was so sad to read about Mr. Shaw’s passing. It was always my privilege to check him in for his appointments at the cancer center. He was always cheerful, and so kind. I still have the pens he gave me. I had been waiting for him to come in, because I found a “little Jesus” with an orange sash, for his lymphoma. Sometime in the future, I would love to see you, and give it to you. I’ll be praying for you, my friend.
The world is a little bluer now because we have lost another colorful character. Stu, continue to spread your color to all you encounter.
Early when Paul and I ( Yes, the infamous Quinn Twins from Tupper Lake. ) first meant Stu, we knew quickly what type of person he was, a prankster. The reason we knew was that we were also pranksters, and no one knows a prankster better then another prankster. All of that makes more sense knowing that both of our fathers were notorious prankster too.
The effect of our fathers was also evident in our academic strengths that we had and the careers we ended up following. Our fathers would give us toys that had some scientific principle behind it, and they let us experiment with them. They also let us experiment with just about everything else, to the detriment of our fathers’ tool collections. Our fathers’ effect was to raise our literacy in both math and sciences from early on. Stuart’s career you know. Paul ended up as a nuclear plant design engineer with General Electric, and I ended up as opto-eletro-mechical Support Staff at M.I.T. Lincoln Labs. Thanks, dads, for all you did, from all three of us.
In our pre-teens, Stu was in our association of HO scale car racers. On the rainy weekend days ( In the Adirondacks, it only is sunny mid-week. ) we would all bring our HO race sets to the Quinn household and up the third floor ( Which was Paul and my bedroom. ) for a race day. We would set up all of our track set all over the floor, sometimes 40 feet. We all started collecting different cars even from different manufactures. We started modifying the cars, putter different bodies on the chassis, even the HO scale WW2 model vehicles. We even had tanks the actually fire a projectile.
Growing up in the small town of Tupper Lake, NY, in the middle of the Adirondack Mountains, miles from anything, you had to rely on your group of friends to keep coming up with thing to do. Stuart, Paul, and I did our part.
I cannot think of any better place or time to grow up in. And Stuart was an integral part. Thanks Stu!
Love you Bud!
Marlene,
I am glad I got to spend some time with Stu before he joined Mom and Dad. I am sure he is already driving them crazy as he did when he was a kid. Stu was a brother that could and was a pain in the butt, but every family have those moments. I also remember so many times that were fun, exciting, silly, mischievous and loving. Growing up in Tupper Lake, in our little hood was special. I am also glad I got to share a few of those memories of Stu with you Marlene. 💕 Rest easy Stu!
I`m so glad we had the priviledge of knowing Stu. He is at peace now although I know you (Marlene) and his family will miss him deeply. our sympathy to all of you.
Linda and Bill Nugent