The husband and father of two responded to the school because a student reportedly became overheated. The child was fine and Chief Shields returned to the firehouse and then headed home, feeling ill. He told his wife he was having chest pains, EMS responded but tragically Chief Shields died at Saint Clare’s Hospital in Denville. As always our most sincere condolences to all affected by this loss. HERE is their webpage: http://www.flandersfire.org/home
Visitation:
Friday, June 03, 2011 2-4 & 7-9pm at William J. Leber Funeral Home, Chester, NJ
Interment:
Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Chester, NJ
Thomas Shields, 42, of Flanders, NJ passed away on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at St. Clare’s Hospital in Denville, NJ. Tom was born on August 19, 1968 in Passaic, NJ. He lived in Flanders for the past 7 years and was previously from West Paterson, NJ. Tom owned and operated an Alarm Company called Security Controls, Concepts, and Designs. Tom was the Assistant Chief of the Flanders Fire and Rescue Company #1 and a past Lieutenant of the West Paterson Company #2. He also volunteered with the Boy Scouts. Tom enjoyed deep sea fishing and golf and loved going to Disney World with his family.
Tom is survived by his wife of 11 years Nicole Shields; his children Brandon and Gregory Shields; his parents Jack and Teresa Shields; his brother Jack Shields and wife Cindy and their children Meghan, Dan and Taylor of Bozrah, Ct; his Brother-in-Law Michael Petruzzi of Mays Landing, NJ; and his mother and father-in-laws Judy and Dennis Petruzzi.
Visitation will be held from 2-4pm and 7-9pm on Friday, June 3, 2011 at the William J. Leber Funeral Home, 15 Furnace Road (corner of Rt. 206), Chester, NJ (908) 879-3090. Friends and family are asked to meet directly at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Flanders, NJ on Saturday, June 4, 2011 for a 10:30am funeral mass. Interment will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Chester, NJ. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Flanders Fire Company, 27 Main Street, Flanders, NJ 07836.
