Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-02-07
Shea Celebrates 10 Years
As District Welfare Chief
BY BETTY MILES
Star Stan Writer

VI NOluIlUld.
It's been a job that also Of
fers its share of Illustration.
In this changing city. relief
rolls have climbed steadily up
ward as have the numbers Of
unwanted children.
Even though Mr.. Shea's well
fare budget was S8.5 million in
1880 and is SIT, 480, 900 for ifs
cal 1860. preventive programs
of rehabilitation he has
dreamed Of for years have had
TO be set aside again and again
because the money was needed
for current crises.
Better than a Dream
Yet Mr.. Shea considers him.
self lucky man.
Never in my widest dreams
did I ever think I'd be in this
job" he said in a recent inter-
view.
He was sworn in as welfare
director at the age Of 81 on
February %, 1850.
Gerard M. Shea was born
In Boston. He is an alum
nus of Boston College, where
he got his bachelors degree
and, later, masters degrees in
both English and social work.
He majored in child welfare
administration.
After two unrewarding years
as a lay English and Latin
teacher in the Mission School,
q parochial high school in
Boston, Mr.. Shea found his
life's work. He became a case
worker for Catholic Charities
in Boston. then took a job
supervising about 100 boys in
foster homes under the pro-
gram Of Angel Guardian Home
In Brooklyn.
Juvenile Court Officer
He came to Washington in
1912 as probation officer OF
Juvenile Court. After Navy
service in World War II, he
came back to Washington as
assistant superintendent of the
old Industrial Home School.
He was superintendent when |
he took over as welfare di-
rector.
Among the city's most APP
proachable officials, Mr. Shea
is probably one of the best
public relations men in town.
Never too busy to talk to re-
porters, he answers questions
at Jet pace and in Boston
accent. /
Technically he works SO
hours a week. but actually a
great deal more. Included is
about six hours spent each
Saturday touring the Chill
dren's Center for Delinquent
and Retarded Children at Lau-
rel, Md
Lives at the Center
He and his wife Mary and
their children live in a home +,
on the grounds there.
He asks the superintendent
of the various other welfare
institutions to live on the
grounds, too.
"You can check around the
clock that way" he explained,
adding with a smile. land the
city gets more for its money"
81 enjov knowing as MANY
kids at Children's Center as I
possibly can" Mr.. Shea said.
II spend virtually every Satur-
day circulating among the cot
tageS."
Every weekday. Mr.. Shea is
at his desk at 499 Pennsylvania
avenue NV. at or before 8
am. ready for a round Of meet
ings and visits to welfare in
situations.
He set himself a 10-year
building program when he took
Office. 1t is now virtually COM
pleted. At a cost of SIG million.
old. unsafe. inadequate welfare
facilities we're gradually re-
placed or thoroughly renovated.
The Children's Center itself was
created in 1854.
Addresses Civic Groups
In many ways Mr.. Shea is
still a teacher. He is certainly
q missionary.
He never misses chance to
talk to civic groups about well
fare in Washington. He speaks
at such meetings at least once
a week.
He tells them that families
rich and poor-must accept re-
sponSibility. He tells them
neighborhoodS and churches
must help people become more
self-respecting and self-sup-
porting. He doesn't dodge the
fact that more than 80 per cent
of the city's welfare reciDients
are now Negro, since so many
white families have moved to
the suburbs and low-income
Negro families remained.
He tells the Negro middle
class it has a responsibility to
help the less fortunate find a
new way of life.
He has tried to demonstrate
that:
Public welfare isn't all neg
alive. There are certain serv-
ices all of lis might use end
pay for, such as D. C. Village
for the Aged"
He says, Il try to point out
on every occasion that public
welfare programs are a lot
closer to all of us than we
realize"
"Stepfather Policy"
Some of Mr.. Shea's f1rmest
friends have said he is too
moralistic. They complain that