We honor here members, friends and supporters of the American Council of the Blind who have impacted our lives in many wonderful ways. If you would like to submit a notice for this column, please include as much of the following information as possible.
Name (first, last, maiden if appropriate)
City of residence (upon passing)
State/province of residence (upon passing)
Other cities/states/countries of residence (places where other blind people may have known this person)
Occupation
Date of death (day if known, month, year)
Age
ACB affiliation (local/state/special-interest affiliates or national committees)
Deaths that occurred more than six months ago cannot be reported in this column.
Jim Doherty
James Edward "Jim" Doherty passed away March 12, 2013 at Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C. He was 80.
Jim was born Dec. 8, 1932 in Kansas City, Mo. He graduated from the Missouri School for the Blind in 1951. From there, he proceeded to higher education, studying journalism at the University of Missouri in Columbia, graduating in 1955.
Jim worked as a braille editor and proofreader at the Ho'opono Rehabilitation Center in Hawaii from 1956 to 1960. He studied Russian at Georgetown University from 1960-1961, and later became an instructor there. In 1961, he took a job as a writer and editor at the Office of Economic Opportunity, then took his skills to the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society in 1991. He retired in 1998.
Jim was a long-time member of the D.C. Council of the Blind, well known for his volunteer work in many Washington area groups. He wrote and edited the DCCB newsletter, and volunteered at ACB's national office. He is survived by 2 children, 5 grandchildren, a brother, and a sister.
James F. "Jim" Shaw
James F. "Jim" Shaw, 60, of Louisville, passed away at his home April 28, 2013. He was a retired claims representative for the Social Security Administration, past president of the Kentucky Council of the Blind (2000-2004), and was also a member of the board of directors. He was treasurer of the Greater Louisville Council of the Blind 2009-present, and a board member from 2005-2009. He was also the current president of the Kentucky School for the Blind Alumni Association. Jim was a member of the American Council of Blind Lions and current treasurer of the Tri-state Library Users. Jim was the former president of the Middletown Lions Club. He served as the Kentucky Council of the Blind representative to the Office for the Blind Statewide Rehabilitation Council 2007-2013. He was currently on the TARC Accessibility Advisory Counsel.
Since his retirement, Jim was a proofreader of braille textbooks for the Kentucky School for the Blind. He cared deeply for his family and friends and touched the lives of many people across the country.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Rollin and Mary Ellen Shaw. Jim is survived by his brother, Rollin Arkins Shaw Jr.; nephews, Justin and Jordan Shaw; and their mother, Linda Shaw. His funeral service was held May 3 at Middletown United Methodist Church, followed by burial in Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations be given to the Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation, c/o Rick Ricks, executive director, 214 N. Haldeman Ave., Louisville, KY 40206, or the KSB Alumni Association, Carla Ruschival, treasurer, 148 Vernon Ave., Louisville, KY 40206.