Dr. Richard Shannon, a long-time resident of Montrose, CO, passed away peacefully at his home on February 28, 2026 at the age of 84.

Richard was born November 23, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois. His father was an executive for Ford Motor Company, a job that would take the family from Chicago to Kansas City to Boston and finally back to Chicago as a child and young adult.

At the age of 13, he and his family relocated to Framingham, near Boston, MA. It was there he developed his lifelong love of ice hockey and recalled countless hours spent both on the pond and rink playing hockey with his younger brother Jim. His passion for hockey continued in college, as he and Jim played at Boston College and Northwestern University. He then played recreationally through his early 30s.

In May 1964, Richard graduated from Northwestern. Following undergrad, he attended Creighton University Medical School in Omaha, NE. It was in Omaha that he met his wife Maureen, a student at a nearby women’s college. They married in the fall of 1967 in Rushville, NE. His first daughter Kathleen was born in Omaha the following year.

After graduating from medical school in May 1968, Richard completed an intern year in Omaha before being drafted into the U.S. Navy. He recalled his time spent as a Naval officer fondly. He worked in the anesthesia department in Portsmouth, VA and Bremerton, WA. His son Michael was born during their time in Washington state.

After Richard’s Navy time was completed, he and his young family returned to Omaha so he could complete a residency in Urology. Initially his search for jobs post-residency focused on regions where hockey was available. However, once he visited Montrose, CO for an interview, he fell in love with the town and surrounding mountains. They moved to Montrose in 1975 and his daughter Kelli was born a few years later.

Richard loved practicing medicine and loved being a urologist. He worked in private practice and at the VA Hospital in Grand Junction until his retirement at the age of 80.

Recreationally, Richard enjoyed skiing, boating and travel. He and his family created many wonderful memories on the ski slopes and water, where he was always up for teaching others how to ski and taking another spin around the lake. He and Maureen traveled to every continent except Antarctica, though they saw those shores from a cruise ship. He also loved any reason to celebrate, participating in community theatre both as an actor and

director, and watching the Broncos and any sport his grandchildren participated in, especially soccer.

Richard was an amazing friend, brother, husband, father and papa. He loved engaging with people and hearing their stories. He will be remembered by countless friends and family for his strong faith, commitment to helping others, adventurous spirit, and infectious laugh. He truly embodied a life well-lived.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy and James, and brother Jim. He is survived by his sisters Joan and Jeanne of San Diego, CA; wife Maureen of Montrose, CO; daughter Kathy Maness (Mike) of Broomfield, CO; son Mike Shannon (Brandy) of Cheyenne, WY; daughter Kelli Shannon (Kris Kazlauskas) of San Diego, CA; grandchildren Kailey, Jackie and Ryan Maness; Josh Zimmerman, Herbie and Abby Legg, and Bebe Shannon; Jonas, Jakob, Natalie and Lauren Kazlauskas; and nieces and nephews in the US and England.

A rosary service and vigil will be held at Crippin Funeral Home in Montrose on March 19 at 7:00 p.m., with a funeral mass on March 20 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Burial service will follow at Grand View Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to HopeWest Hospice or St. Mary’s Catholic Church.