Obituary for R. William Shaw
The Ithaca Journal, Apr 5 1995, P. 4, Cols. 1-2

"R. William Shaw, 90, residing et 105 Halcyon Hill, Ithaca, New York, died on March 14, after a brief hospitalization.
  Dr. Shaw was a Professor Emeritus and former chairman of the Astronomy Department at Cornell University. He was born on July 7, 1904, and raised on a rural farm near Meadville, Pennsylvania. He attended grade school in a one-room schoolhouse near his home. High school required a hike and trolley ride into town, with afternoons and evenings devoted to farm chores.
  He attended Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, where he received a BS in physics and mathematics. After graduation he matriculated at Purdue University where he earned a Masters degree in physics. A Ph.D. in physics from Cornell University was awarded several years later.
  While in graduate school at Cornell, he met his wife of nearly 60 years, Charlotte G.
Throop, who was also a graduate student in the physics department. After completion of his doctoral degree, he joined the faculty at Cornell, where, in conjunction with Professor Boothroyd, he was a founding influence in the newly created Astronomy Department.
  In the early years he spent summers doing research at the Lick and other western observatories, where the large optical telescopes of the day were located. However. his primary interest was in teaching, and he devoted most of his career to the development of an undergraduate astronomy curriculum at Cornell. ... He is the author of a widely used laboratory manual for undergraduate astronomy instruction. For many years he served as director of a National Science Foundation summer institute for graduate studies for earth science teachers. Accolades and awards for outstanding teaching were common throughout his career.
  Dr. Shaw is survived by three sons, Robert W. Shaw Jr. Ph.D., of Potomac, MD; Montgomery T. Shaw, Ph.D. of Manfield, Ct; and James A. Shaw, MD. of Hummelstown, PA; a sister, Alberta Walker of Flourtown, PA; and five grandchildren.
  A family graveside service will be held on April 29 in Meadville, PA."