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Dr. James “Jim” Joseph Shaughnessy

Dr. James “Jim” Joseph Shaughnessy, passed away unexpectedly from natural causes on Dec. 30, 2016, at his residence in Los Angeles, California.

Jim was born Nov. 11, 1960, in Jamestown, N.Y., a son of William A. and Mary E. Hayes Shaughnessy.

He was an alumnus of Jamestown High School (1978), Colgate University (summa cum laude, 1982), and State University of New York at Buffalo Medical School (1986). He completed a psychiatry residency at Tufts University (1990), a fellowship in Child Psychiatry at Brown University (1991), and a Masters in Public Health at Harvard University (1998).

While in college at Colgate, Jim traveled and performed with the famed “Colgate 13” singing group, and was elected a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. In medical school he spent three months volunteering on the continent of Africa.

Jim’s professional career included positions in both adult and child psychiatry in Boston, Mass., San Francisco and Los Angeles, Calif., as well as a year working and traveling in Australia and New Zealand.

Beyond his many academic and professional accomplishments, Jim’s true gift was in his ability to make and keep friends. Jim kept in touch with friends he’d had since childhood, and made new friends easily. He radiated warmth and acceptance, and had a natural, lighthearted sense of humor that often made him the life of the party. He enjoyed hiking, masters swimming and running. He lobbied for LGBT rights and spoke up against injustice, especially toward children.

As a natural outlet for his sense of humor, Jim dabbled in stand-up comedy, but his daily life seemed to provide him with a more-than-willing audience and plenty of material – for example, the bear that showed up at his clinic door one morning, as if expecting an appointment!

Jim is survived by siblings: Mary Prunty (husband, Jerry) of Huntsville, Ala., the Rev. William Shaughnessy of San Antonio, Texas, Dr. Patrick Shaughnessy (wife, Maggie) of Greenville, Pa., and Annie M. Shaughnessy of Northborough, Mass.

He was a favorite uncle, “U.J.” of Gabe, Nicole, Shantal, Brian, Bill, Kevin, Colleen, Maureen, Kathleen, Danny and many grand-nieces and -nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and by his beloved sister, Kathleen S. Blatz, whose husband, Perry K. Blatz of Pittsburgh, survives.

Jim’s life was also enriched by his close friends Lisette and Waldy and their son Andy; by his close friend, Jennifer; and by many others too numerous to mention.

Donations in Jim’s name may be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Greenpeace, or the Human Rights Campaign.

Plans are underway for a memorial service. The details will be made available on Jim’s Facebook memorial page.