Larry Shaw (1950 – 2012)

January 20, 2012  

On the 16th of January, 2012 we suddenly lost a wonderful friend, co-worker and long time union supporter. Larry Shaw, aged 61, passed away after a brief illness. Larry was a member of OPSEU Local 147.
 
Larry led the seniority list at Thames Emergency Medical Services of Middlesex-London with 42 years of active paramedic service. In 2005 he was presented with the Governor General’s EMS Exemplary Service Award.
 
Larry was instrumental in organizing and forming the Association and obtaining the first and subsequent collective agreements prior to the medics of London’s then Thames Valley Ambulance joining OPSEU in the early 1980’s.
 
Larry was a member of the organizing committee that resulted in our membership joining OPSEU.  He served on the bargaining team that negotiated our first collective agreement.  In 2000 when the Province downloaded the delivery of ambulance services to the Municipality and we became employees of a new employer, Thames Emergency Medical Services, Larry again served on the bargaining team that negotiated our first collective agreement with this new employer. Throughout his career, Larry was a union supporter and a respected colleague.
 
Besides leaving his union brothers and sisters, Larry also leaves behind his wife Diane, daughter and son Amy and Andrew Shaw, grandchildren John and Lucy Harford and mother Alberta Shaw (the late Earl, 1989). Larry will be sadly missed by sisters Sharon Richards and Debbie Richards and nieces and nephews.
 
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 20th, 2012 from 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-9:00 p.m. at the WESTVIEW FUNERAL CHAPEL, 709 Wonderland Road North, London, where the funeral service will be conducted on Saturday, January 21st, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Cremation to follow with a private family interment at Banner Cemetery.
 
Special thanks to the doctors and nurses at University Hospital, Emergency, Neurology and I.C.U. Donations would be appreciated to the London Regional Cancer Program.