Shepard, Henry Prescott, 87, of Wolf Hill Road, died Sunday in the Hospice Intake Center, Providence. He was the husband of Juliet (Bolduc) Shepard. They were married for 63 years.
Born in Providence, he was the son of the late Henry P. Shepard, Sr. and Yvonne R. (Thibodeau) Shepard. He and his family moved to Smithfield in 1928. His education began at the Irving S. Cook School in Georgiaville, continuing at LaSalle Academy and graduating in 1942. He received his a PhB from Providence College in 1948 and a Master’s in Education from RI College of Education in 1955. Additional graduate studies were taken at Brown University, Providence College, RI College and University of RI.
He began his teaching career in 1948 at LaSalle Academy where he taught English and Civics. He was appointed to a position at Smithfield Commercial High School in 1949, teaching English, Science, Business Math, Commercial Law, Economics, Civics, and Driver Training. With the closing of the Commercial High School, he was assigned to teaching the 5th and 6th grades of the Esmond School. He succeeded Dorothy T.P. Dame as Principal upon her retirement. In 1957, he became the first principal of the new Pleasant View School, later named the Anna M. McCabe School, and at the same time served as Acting Principal of the Winsor School. Six years later, he was named Principal of the Smithfield Memorial Junior High School and two years after that he became the first Principal of the new Smithfield Senior High School, where he remained in charge for the next 24 years, retiring in 1989.
As a member of Visiting Committees of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, he participated in the evaluation of high schools. These included Cranston West High School, Ponagansett High School, North Kingstown High School, Warren High School and Braintree High School in Massachusetts. He was a guest lecturer at Providence College, teaching “Foundations of Education” and “Personnel Problems in Education”.
Mr. Shepard traveled extensively studying comparative organization, administration and supervision of secondary schools in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Hungary, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Macau, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and China.
As a member of the Rhode Island Principals’ Committee on Athletics, he served as director of tennis, swimming, hockey and cross country at various times over a twenty year period. A member of the U.S. Army Reserves, he served in France, Germany, and Czechoslovakia during WWII and was recalled to active duty during the Korean Conflict.
He was a lifelong member of the Boy Scouts of America attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. In addition, his two sons and one of his grandsons are all Eagle Scouts He served as a troop leader, a troop committeeman, and District Chairman. He was a member of the High Court of Honor of the Narragansett Council for several years. He holds the Silver Beaver Award presented by the Council for service to Scouting and the St. George Medal presented by the Bishop of Providence for service to youth.
Shepard was a Past President of St. Michael’s Holy Name Society, the Smithfield Teachers’ Association, the Rhode Island Education Association, the Rhode Island Association of Secondary School Principals, the New England Council of State Principals’ Associations, the Barnard Club of Rhode Island, Smithfield Chapter 4536 AARP, the Rhode Island Retired Teachers' Association, NEARI, National Association of Secondary School Principals, Johnston Chapter AARP, Central Retired Teachers’ Association, Smithfield Lions, Smithfield Sportsman’s Club, and a trustee of St. Michael’s Church. He had been a lector and a Eucharistic Minister. He has served many years as a Director of East Smithfield Public Library.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his three daughters; Deborah S. Mitchell of Laconia, NH; Stephany D. Pion of North Fort Myers, FL; Melany A. Shepard of Smithfield; two sons; Gregory P. Shepard, and William A. Shepard both of Smithfield, 12 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, and a sister, Mildred Maltais.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday at 10am in St. Michael’s Church, 80 Farnum Pike, Georgiaville and burial in Acote’s Hill Cemetery, Chepachet. Visitation will be Wednesday 3-7pm in the ANDERSON-WINFIELD Funeral Home, Route 44 at Greenville Common, Greenville. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Home and Hospice Care of RI, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904