Dr. Shields Always Delivered

John Riley Shields, M.D., delivered. Big-time. All his life - which ended March 10 at age 72 after a bout with prostate cancer.

As an Army air-traffic controller in World War II, he delivered bombers back to home bases in Europe and North Africa.

As a truck driver for his father's business running some of the last fishing schooners, he delivered Alaska salt cod to customers throughout the Seattle area.

And as a leading urologist, he reversed vasectomies and delivered men back to fatherhood.

But there was one thing he never delivered: An invoice for the 20 years he spent looking out for the public - particularly the disadvantaged and sometimes at the expense of fellow physicians - as a board commissioner of Valley Medical Center in Renton.

"The paper in Kent was very concerned about his appointment," said his son John Jr., of Seattle. "He was the first physician on the board, and the paper screamed about `conflict of interest.'

"But he felt it was important to have a physician on the board to understand medical issues and to oppose doctors if they were ramrodding something through that wasn't in the public's best interest. He wanted to act on behalf of the community and the patients rather than the hospital and doctors."

Dr. Shields - a tall, portly man given to "rumpled, comfortable" clothing when not in surgery - saw his mission as making some hospital resources available to educate the public and deal with other concerns such as help for people living with HIV/AIDS.

"He felt hospitals should not just treat diseases and injuries," said his son, "but deal with health education and prevention, and reach out to neglected parts of the community."

He was an idealist, an intellectual and curmudgeon.

"But he was a total teddy bear inside," said his son William Shields, also a doctor, of Gig Harbor, Pierce County. "He played Santa at hospital Christmas parties for disadvantaged children and wore his `Harvey' bunny-suit at Easter."

The Seattle native, a graduate of Garfield High School and the University of Washington Medical School, wore many other hats. In fact, he had a hat collection and lately wore a cowboy hat - even to board meetings.

One hat was as a lover of classical music. He played piano and harpsichord and once wanted to sing opera.

Another hat was a gardener's.

He also was entitled to wear an artist's beret: He cut paper silhouettes and painted watercolors.

"He liked the idea of being a Renaissance man, a balanced man," said his son John. "He had a huge range of interests. He felt these were all important to pursue."

One favorite saying was, "Life is a banquet," said his son William.

"He focused on the banquet, rather than the rest of the saying. He was interested in sitting at the table."

Other survivors include his wife, Martha Shields of Kent; his son Dr. Andrew Shields, Seattle; brother Capt. James Edward Shields, Poulsbo; sister Phyllis Mary Trombley, Seattle, and five grandchildren.

Services were held. Remembrances may be made to Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society, Northwest AIDS Foundation or Valley Medical Center Volunteers.