In Memory of Richard J. Shima

February 21, 2025

Richard John “Dick” Shima, ASA 1967, MAAA 1970, of West Hartford, CT passed away peacefully on July 26, 2024 at age 84, surrounded by his family.

Dick was born on August 11, 1939 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was the son of Stanley and Isobel Shima, and grew up in Chaska, Minnesota with his four sisters. Dick graduated from Chaska High School in 1957 as valedictorian and senior class president, with twelve varsity letters. He then attended Harvard College, where he lived in Winthrop House and was a member of the varsity baseball team. He was twice named to the Greater Boston League all-star baseball team, and on May 10, 1961, earned a share of an NCAA record for hitting three triples in one game. He graduated cum laude from Harvard in 1961 with a B.A. in Mathematics. Following college, Dick served as an officer in the United States Navy on the USS Wilkinson until 1963. He then joined The Travelers Insurance Companies, where he worked for 31 years. He held a variety of positions during his career at The Travelers, where he started as an actuary and eventually rose to the role of Vice Chairman and Chief Investment Officer.

On June 26, 1965, Dick married the love of his life, Denise Buckley, and they settled in West Hartford, where they would go on to raise their three children. Over the years, Dick served on many boards. He was an independent trustee for Evergreen Mutual Funds, chair of Hartford Hospital’s Investment Committee, chair of the Hartford Graduate Center’s board of trustees, a trustee of the Greater Hartford YMCA, a director at Connecticut Natural Gas Company and Trust Company of CT, and served on the Board of Advisors to the Dean of Georgetown College as well as boards of trustees at Kingswood-Oxford School, Northwest Catholic High School and St. Joseph’s College in West Hartford. Dick was a staunch believer in the value of education, a devout Catholic, and a kind man of wisdom and integrity who was dedicated to his family and helping others. Nothing brought Dick more joy than spending time with his ten grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by those who knew him and were touched by his kindness and generosity. In addition to his beloved wife, Denise, Dick is survived by his daughter Kathleen (Kate) O’Brien of Darien, CT, her husband Michael, and their four children (Caroline, Elisabeth, Josie and Owen); his son Patrick of Ridgefield, CT, his wife Nicole, and their three daughters (Caitlin, Kendall and Courtney); his daughter Mary Elisabeth (Molly) McDonnell of Darien, CT, her husband Ryan, and their three children (Teddy, Grace and Patrick); and his sisters Nora Bruce of Mankato, MN, Kathleen (Kay) Shima of Minnetonka, MN, Jane Nichols of Plant City, FL, and Marybeth Conley of Sioux Falls, SD.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.