James Menzies Shannon ’45

Jim Shannon died Dec. 13, 2003.

Jim prepared at Woodberry Forest, following brother Phil '41, now deceased, to Prince-ton. Jim joined Campus Club and received his degree on an accelerated basis in 1944. He served in the Army Specialized Training Program as a medical student, and graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1947.

Jim spent eight years completing his surgical training, including two years in Army service in Japan and Korea, where he performed combat surgery with a MASH unit and was introduced to his field of specialization, surgery on major blood vessels. Jim next entered private practice in Salem, Mass., in 1955, the same year he married the former Carolyn Damp.

Jim was an exceptional human being, returning so much to so many. He was the first specialist in cardiovascular surgery in the Salem area and was instrumental in the growth of Salem Hospital, where he served as both chief of surgery and chief of staff. He was a member of the Speckled Band Society and the Boston chapter of the Sherlock Holmes Society, in which he once distinguished himself by winning an award for composing the best Sherlock Holmes puzzle.

In addition to Carolyn, Jim is survived by his sons, James Jr. and Campbell, daughters Elizabeth Weiss '79 and Melissa, and 13 grandchildren. The class extends sympathy to all.

The Class of 1945