Norman Dean Shahan, 88, died on Dec. 25, 2022.
He was born on Nov. 29, 1934, to Roy and Gertrude (Hagelstein) in San Angelo, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents; his older brother, Earl (Gayle) Shahan; his son, Scott Christopher Shahan; his daughter-in-law, Sandy Burtchaell; and his first wife, Charlotte Shahan.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 25 years, Rebecca (Bricker) Shahan; his daughter, Robin Elizabeth Shahan of San Ramon, California; his grandson, Kyle Shahan of Springfield, Ohio; Christian (Amy) Durbin of Yardley, Pennsylvania; Michael Durbin of Mount Vernon, Ohio; Alicia Durbin of Austin, Texas; and Stephen and Bridget Durbin of Christiansburg, Virginia, and their children, Brennan, Kathryn, and Finnegan. Also surviving are his brother Glen (Linda) Shahan of Killeen, Texas, and his sister Helen Adams of The Hills, Texas, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held at a future date. Additional information will be available on the Weed Corley Fish website.
Shahan graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering in 1958. He also graduated from the SMEI Graduate School of Sales Management and Marketing at Syracuse University in 1974 and the Harvard Advanced Management Program in 1982.
He spent his career at various worldwide energy-related manufacturing businesses – the bulk of it with Cooper Industries (from 1971 to 1995), serving as president of Cooper Energy Group in Mount Vernon, Ohio, from 1984 to 1990 and president of Cooper Oil Tool Group in Houston, Texas, from 1990 to 1995. He served in various positions prior to that, including vice president of marketing and international from 1979 to 1984.
Following his retirement from Cooper Industries, Shahan served as president of Demag/Delaval Turbomachinery Group in Trenton, New Jersey, from 1995 to 1997. During his career, he served on the Boards of Directors of the American Petroleum Institute, Petroleum Equipment Suppliers Association, and National Ocean Industries Association and on the Executive Committees of PESA and NOIA.
Eventually, Shahan had the opportunity to return to his native state of Texas, where he and Rebecca were blessed to find many wonderful friends with whom they enjoyed golf, Tuesday night parties, and other fun activities. He was an avid hunter, so the family was able to appreciate the bounty of his hunts — dove, quail, venison, and elk — and had fun while making his famous homemade boudin sausage.
Shahan was able to indulge his passion and life-long love for restoring old cars. He could not stand to see a so-called old beauty rusting, and he was thrilled to have the opportunity to return so many of them to their former glory. He enjoyed his buddies in the Friday Car Club and his participation and friendships in the Model A Club of Austin. He enjoyed many tours and rallies, including The Great Race Texas numerous times.
Mostly, Shahan loved spending time with his family. Whether it was drinking champagne on Christmas Eve, chasing a little white ball around, boating on the river and drinking margaritas, working on the MG or GTO, or driving the Jeep around in the cornfield, it did not matter, as long as it was with family. Shahan loved attending his grandkids' sports competitions and congratulating them on their academic accomplishments — and bragging about them to anyone who would listen.
Shahan's infectious laugh, sense of humor, and kind and generous spirit will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
The family wishes to express their gratitude to Dr. Babu and the entire staff of the ICU at BS&W for their kindness and professional care during Shahan's most recent illness.
Arrangements were made by Weed Corley Fish Funeral Homes, Lake Travis. They can be reached at 512-263-1511. Their obituary for Shahan can be found at www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries.
