BROOKLINE, MASS.
Joshua Ryan Shafer passed away peacefully on Sunday, Sept. 16, after a courageous four-year battle with ALS. He was 44 years old.
Born April 20, 1974, in Ellsworth and raised in Winter Harbor, Josh was a graduate of Sumner Memorial High School and Boston University, spent a semester abroad at Oxford University and was a certified LEED AP with big, green plans for this world.
Josh cherished the wisdom and teachings of the Buddha, the Beatles and the Bobs (Dylan and Marley), and was fluent in Spanish, Socrates and sarcasm. He had no tolerance for intolerance, a smile that wouldn’t quit, a Muppet-worthy laugh and a Maine accent that got thicker the closer he got to the Maine border. A mean guitarist, gourmet and gardener, Josh loved his family, his friends, a good political debate, a great game of poker, sunny days at Fenway Park, snowy days at Gillette Stadium and a pug named Eli.
Josh was the beloved husband and best friend of Keri Campiola; son of Roseanne Hurd Shafer and Henry Shafer; nephew of Charles Hurd and Gary Ray; grandson of Irving “Snookie” Ray and the late Althea Ray, Georgia and Paul Gildner, and Margarida DeMorais; son-in-law of Fatima DeMorais, Douglas Campiola, and Edward Curtin; cousin of Brent, Cheryl, Colby, and Kylee Hurd; brother-in-law of Amanda and Nathan Butcher; Uncle Joshie to his niece and nephew, Aubrey and Jackson Butcher…and “Shafe” to those who knew him best.
To both of the adopted brothers Josh cherished — Alex Muyimbwa and Solomon Lubandi — for their extraordinary care and boundless compassion…Weebale nnyo, Ssebo.
Family and friends will gather in celebration of Josh’s life on Wednesday, Oct. 10, from 5-8 p.m. at his beloved Fenway Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Josh’s memory may be made to Boston Children’s Hospital at bostonchildrens.org/givenow or via check by mail to Boston Children’s Hospital Trust, 401 Park Drive, Suite 602, Boston, MA 02215.