Shields, Sylvester D.

ALBANY- Sylvester D. Shields, 89, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday June 29, 2019, surrounded by his loving family.

Born and educated in Albany, he was the son of the late Sylvester and Bertha (Reitz) Shields.

Sylvester served in the Naval Reserves for 8 years.

He worked at Sealtest for 25 years retiring in 1969. It was there that he met the love of his life, Dolores to whom he has been married for almost 67 years. Upon retirement he went to work for CDTA Bus Co. for 23 years as a bus driver retiring in 1992.

Sylvester was a loving and compassionate man to all and sometimes known as “St. Sy.”

He was a lifelong parishioner of St. James Church, now known as St. Francis of Assisi. He was an avid NY Yankee fan and bowler. At the age of 73 he bowled a perfect 300 game.

He was the husband of Dolores Staltari Shields; loving father of Thomas (Roberta) Shields of Leonardtown, MD, Daniel (Cindi) Shields of Rotterdam, Karen Dobiel, Janice (Tom) Lombardo and Robert (the late Cindy) Shields all of Glenmont; beloved grandfather of Yolanda, Stephen, Veronica, Katie, Johnny, Nicole, Thomas, Robert, Jr., Brendan, Brian, Christopher and "pop" to Evan Soraghan. Brother-in-law of Eleanor (the late Andrew) Malatesta, who Sylvester treated like a sister and Beverly (the late Nick) Staltari and the late Linda Staltari. Sylvester is also survived by 7 great-grandchildren . Being an only child he enjoyed being with his five children and his 6 nieces and nephews, Andy, Lynn, Linda, Jimmy, Ricky and Frankie, which he treated as his own children.

The family would like to thank the nursing staff at St. Peter’s Hospital, the Daughters of Sarah Nursing Home and a special thank you to Landmark and Living Resources and all of their neighbors for their compassion, care and support during Sylvester’s illness.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Sylvester’s family on Tuesday, July 2nd from 4-7 pm in the Daniel Keenan Funeral Home, 490 Delaware Ave., Albany. His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 3rd at 10 am in St. Francis of Assisi Church, 391 Delaware Ave. Albany. Interment will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery, Colonie.

Those who wish may send memorial contributions to the American Parkinson Disease Assoc., 135 Parkinson Ave., Staten Island, NY 10305.