Ronald Shields:
CLASS OF 1971
Nelson High SchoolClass of 1971
Burlington, ON
University of Waterloo - ScienceClass of 1976
Waterloo, ON
Tecumseh SchoolClass of 1966
Burlington, ON
John T. Tuck SchoolClass of 1965
Burlington, ON
Laurie Smith SchoolClass of 1961
Burlington, ON
Ronald's Story
Life
Hi All,
Updated my site photo of me after flying in a CWHM (Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum) Boeing Stearman in the summer of 2016. This past summer I got to fly a CWHM de Havilland Chipmunk with a former Snowbird pilot as my "instructor". The Chipmunk has the same flight characteristics as the famous Supermarine Spitfire, but at a slower speed and rate of climb. I also got to fly in the nose of the Commemorative Air Force's B-17G "Sentimental Journey" as their bombardier. What a thrill! It was my second flight in this iconic World War II heavy bomber. Although I don't have my pilot licence (yet!), I am realizing my dream of flying World War II aircraft. As a member of the Canadian Warplane Heritage, I have had the privilege of also co-piloting their North American Harvard in 2014 and their Boeing Stearman last summer in 2016.. In 2014, I had the privilege of flying with my brother, Tom, who is a WWII history buff like myself, in the Commemorative Air Force's same Boeing B-17G "Sentimental Journey". For both of us, it was a dream come true. Both flights gave me a real appreciation for those heroic men who flew in these aircraft in combat during World War II.
Life has been very good to me. There have been a few bumps (married and divorced once) along the way, but that's life. But, I am still looking for that special someone to share my life. Never give up on hope!
I have been living on my own in the west end of the Mountain here in Hamilton for the last 27 years. In 1994, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I have amazed my doctors with my coping skills and self-treatment, even with a recent relapse of 4 years ago. I even completed my End-to-End on the Bruce Trail in 1995 shortly after being diagnosed with RA. Currently, I am semi-retired after working full-time as an Inventory/Receiving Associate for The Home Depot at the Ancaster store for over 9 years.
For almost 23 years after graduating from Waterloo, I was an Industrial Chemist. Some of you will remember me conducting chemistry experiments in Mr. Richardson's Chemistry Lab at Nelson after school. I was nicknamed the Mad Chemist. Looks like all that tinkering (with some hazardous results!) paid off for me. Breaking Bad still awaits for me, if I get desperate.
In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, astronomy, gourmet cooking (Chemists are excellent cooks, or so I am told; just don't lick the spoon!), puttering around the house or in my garden as well as entertaining friends and family on those rare occasions.
Other than the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, I keep busy with my volunteer work with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (Hamilton Centre), the Bruce Trail Conservancy (Iroquoia Club) and as a member of my Condo Board where I have served as President for t...Expand for more
he last 10 years.
I would love to hear from my former classmates at Lawrie Smith, John T. Tuck, Tecumseh or Nelson High School in Burlington as well as the University of Waterloo. I also look forward to hearing from former colleagues at Diversey and Pennwalt.
I attended the 50th Anniversary Reunion on Sept. 21-22, 2007. I got to see a lot of my old school chums and teachers. It was great to see them again, especially Mr. Richardson, my old Chemistry Teacher, who is still as witty as ever. To Jamie and his wife, thanks for the beer and the catching up. Both were really appreciated. It was good to see you again as it was with everyone else I met there.
My two younger brothers, Doug and Dan, who both attended Nelson, attended the 50th Anniversary Reunion as well.
Unfortunately, Doug died on August 24, 2011 of Cardiac Amyloidosis, a rare autoimmune disease that only affects 1 in 90,000 in North America. He was only diagnosed with this insidious disease on January 26, 2011. Doug, who lived in Brantford, is survived by his widow, Debi, and his daughter, Angela, who plans to become a Medical Technician with the Canadian Armed Forces. Angela was married last year in 2016 to Josh Neufeld. Doug and Debi were married for 26 years. He was the Facilities Resource Coordinator for the Tim Horton's warehouse in Guelph. He had been with Tim Horton's for 25 years. Debi, currently resides in Vancouver, B.C..
Dan is a Project Manager at L-3 Communications (Wescam) and has been married 36 years with two sons in Burlington. His wife, Glenda, recently retired from the Peel Regional Police Force as a Staff Sergeant. Their oldest son, Josh, a Nelson grad, who attended Law School at the University of Western Ontario, is currently practicing law in Stoney Creek, Ontario. He got married in July 2014 and is currently residing in Burlington with his wife, Jelena. His younger brother, Jake, another Nelson grad, graduated in Golf Management from Humber College.
My youngest brother, Tom, due to boundary changes, attended Burlington Central High, although he did have many friends who attended Nelson High. He is doing well. Tom was a Warehouse Supervisor for Tim Horton's in Guelph for 28 years. Tom, who lives in Burlington, has been happily married for 25 years and has one daughter and one son. Tom attended the 50th Anniversary Reunion too, where he got to see a lot of those old friends who attended Nelson. So, all four Shields brothers were in attendance at the Reunion! It is a memory that I will cherish for a long time.
My Mom, Jennie, whom some of you would know, passed away in December 2014 at the age of 89. She will be missed by all who knew her.
I hope that this bio finds each reader of it well. I look forward to hearing from you sometime.
Take Care Always,
Ron
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