| A maternal Uncle, my mother's oldest
brother. Tom was an extremely intelligent self educated man. I
never saw him take a meal at home without a book in front of
him. He was an extremely prolific reader who liked to make
models. (I especially remember his collection of WWI vintage bi
planes) He didn't have to serve in WWII because he was 4-F. (I
don't remember why). He worked as a custodian at the Washington
Avenue Armory in Albany. After the death of his father and the committing
of his mother to an asylum in Poughkeepsie the Shields family
was scattered. My mother ended up being raised in an orphanage
by nuns. When she was old enough Tommy paid for her to attend
Nursing School and my mother was always grateful for his helping
provide her with a career. He died November 20th 1987 of stroke |
