Robert J. Shaw, 57, renowned tax lawyer, enthusiastic leader

Robert J. Shaw, an award-winning Seattle tax and transaction lawyer who also taught at the Seattle branch of Golden Gate University, was "a leader in every sense of the term," says the managing partner of his firm.

"He had a national as well as regional reputation (and) was the kind of lawyer that other lawyers hire to answer their tax questions," said David Koopmans of Short Cressman & Burgess, where Mr. Shaw practiced for 25 years.

Tax rules and regulations are sober subjects for most people, Koopmans said. But Mr. Shaw, with his enthusiasm, big smile and boyish ways, made them understandable and almost fun.

He won the title "Washington Super Lawyer" from the Washington State Bar for 1998-99. He was one of American Lawyer magazine's Best Lawyers in America and a Golden Gate Outstanding Faculty Member.

Mr. Shaw died of cancer Sunday (June 11). He was 57.

Born to a telephone-company executive in Springfield, Mass., he planned on a Navy career. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1965. Stationed in Italy, he was the pilot for the commander of NATO forces in Europe in 1968 and 1969.

Mr. Shaw switched to law after his brother, Edward Shaw, was shot down over Vietnam during the Vietnam War. But Mr. Shaw later served in the Naval Air Reserves and traveled to Washington, D.C., to see his brother's name on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

"He was an intelligent man, always reading," said his wife of 21 years, Oline Shaw of Bellevue. "But he was also down to earth. He liked to sail or ski with the children. He had no airs about him. He could go out on the street and talk to anybody."

Mr. Shaw earned a law degree from the University of Denver in 1974 and a master's in taxation law from New York University in 1975, the year he joined the Seattle firm.

"He became an unbelievably strong federal tax resource in Seattle for individuals and corporations," Koopmans said.

Mr. Shaw, who had served on Short Cressman's management committee and chaired its business group, was active in many community and professional groups.

Recently, he served as president-elect of the South Seattle Community College Foundation and as a board member of the Healthy Tykes Foundation.

Also surviving are children Scott Shaw of Tacoma, Kelly Shaw, a University of Southern California student, and Robert M. Shaw of Bellevue; a sister, Marylou Shaw of Cranston, R.I.; and one grandchild.

Services are at 1:30 p.m. today at St. Louise Catholic Church, 141 156th Ave. S.E., Bellevue. Donations may go to the Oncology Unit, Providence Seattle Medical Center Foundation, P.O. Box 34008, Seattle, WA 98124.

Carole Beers' e-mail address is cbeers@seattletimes.com