Gaius Shew

Gaius Shew of San Ramon, California, passed away peacefully at the age of 107 on the morning of Nov 23, 2020.  Gaius was born on May 13, 1913 in San Jose, CA to Sam Shew (father) and Yeong Gat Lin (mother). He was the youngest of four children.

Gaius grew up in San Jose. He attended Grant Elementary School and San Jose High School. He had very fond memories of his youth and achieved several awards. He was the number 1 ranking tennis player at his high school.  He graduated on June 17, 1931. Four years later, he graduated from San Jose State University earning a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design.

In 1938 he met the love of his life, Daisy, at a dance at Hunters Point.  He courted and married her soon afterward.  He always carried a photo of her in his wallet so she would always be with him. Gaius and Daisy had two children, Alfred and Peggy.

Initially he worked as a graphic artist to support his new family. They moved to Albany in 1941, where he opened the Portland Food Center grocery store. Years later, they opened the Albany Food Center. Gaius also worked for the U.S. Forest Service and Soil Conservation Service as a statistical draftsman and retired after 25 years of federal service at the age of 60.

Aligning with his love of the arts and his creative side, Gaius had a great love of photography. He was known as “Mr. Photographer”. He always had a camera in hand to document all the family gatherings and functions.

When Gaius turned 100, he celebrated this milestone with a surprise party and 110 of his family and friends. Gaius also received congratulatory letters from President Barack Obama and the Mayor of San Ramon.

Gaius was often seen in his favorite color, various shades of green. He loved green because it was the color of money, the lucky shamrock, and his favorite baseball team-the Oakland A’s.

In 2016, at the age of 103, he was interviewed by his granddaughter Christina Shew. In that interview, he expressed that he wanted to be remembered as getting along well with people and being good to them. He found pride and joy in helping people. His life advice to his granddaughter was to “Help people a lot”, which is a motto that he lived by.  He gave willingly to those who needed it — giving people a break on paying their rent or helping to make signs for an event.

He wanted people to know that he was happy, and that is how his granddaughter remembers him. He had a  “happy-go-lucky” outlook on life which served him well. People remember him as always having a positive attitude, always content, and never complaining.

He considered himself a lucky person and enjoyed testing his luck in Reno. In his interview he talked about how his luck helped him avoid serious injury; once hanging onto a moving pick-up truck and later being struck by a bus. Surviving both without serious injury.

He described his son and daughter as really good kids and easy. One of his proudest and happiest moment was when he won the spelling contest at his Junior High School.

This interview gave insight to the kind and gentle person he was.

Gaius saw the best in people and despite the times he grew up in. He always saw the positive in everyone. He never preached or lectured, but instead treated others as he would wanted to be treated. He saw the world through the lens of “positive intent”.

He is preceded in death by his father Sam Shew, mother Yeong Gat Lin, wife Daisy, sisters Pauline and Pearl, and brother Leon.

He is survived by his son Alfred; daughter-in-law Sandra; daughter Peggy; son-in-law Warren; four grandchildren: Christina, Doreen, Coleen and Kenneth; and five great grandchildren: Derek, Ian, Michael, Kelly, and Angela.  He was also loved by 14 nephews, 14 nieces, 29 grandnephews, 28 grandnieces, 25 great grandnephews, and 26 great grandnieces. He loved all of them and all were touched deeply by his gentle, soft spoken, compassionate nature and wonderful smile.  He will be missed dearly.

In this time of Covid-19 pandemic restriction, a graveside service will be held for the immediate family on December 4, 2020 at 10:00 am.  Please do not send flowers. If you wish to make a contribution, please donate to a charity of your choosing in his memory.  Take a moment to remember him on that day and he will feel your love.