Judge Gerard (Jerry) M. Shellan passed away on April 1, 2017, shortly after his 95th birthday, while being cared for at the Palm Springs home of his son and family. He leaves behind his loving family and friends: his wife of almost 40 years, Barbara Shellan (nee Baxter), of Renton; his two sons, Dr. Jeffrey Shellan of Niwot, Colorado, and attorney Kenneth Shellan, retired, wife, Connie, and son, Justice Gerard, of Palm Springs; two stepchildren, Michael Johnson and Dawn Lynn Crnich, her children, Cassie and Michael, of Renton; his nephews, Ron, and Dean, and his niece, Joanne Shellan, a cousin, and their families; and a close circle of lifetime friends whom he considered family. Jerry was preceded in death by his first wife, Phyllis, son, Scott, and brother, Henry.
Jerry’s interment will be at the Tahoma National Veteran’s Cemetery at such time as it is scheduled by the Veteran’s Administration. At Judge Shellan’s request, there will be no formal funeral service, but a memorial will be held in the near future.
Judge Shellan was born March 16, 1922. He was raised in Lancaster, PA., where he attended Franklin & Marshall Academy. Jerry joined the Armed Forces and served from 1942 to 1946 in the European Theater of Operations, landing in Normandy in July of 1944; he served as special agent in the Army Counter Intelligence Corps. in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany, including the Battle of the Bulge in 1945.
Upon his discharge from the U.S. Army, Judge Shellan graduated NYU, and Columbia Law School, class of 1949. He also served in the Army Military Intelligence Reserve at Fort Lawton, Washington, and held the rank of captain.
Newly married, Jerry and Phyllis travelled by train to Washington State where Phyllis began her teaching career, Jerry began his legal career, and their family grew with the additions of Jeffrey, Kenneth, and Scott.
Jerry practiced law in Renton, Washington, and served as Renton City Attorney for 27 years. In October of 1977, he was appointed by Governor Dixie Lee Ray to a seat on the King County Superior Court and served until 1989 when he was offered the position of Senior Judge with JAMS (Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services) where he served until October 2014.
While on the bench, he was elected twice as “Presiding Judge”, was the first recipient of “The Washington Jurist Award”, The Seattle-King County Bar Association’s “Outstanding Judge Award”, and “Trial Judge of the Year” by the Washington State Trial Lawyers.
Judge Shellan was especially honored upon being chosen by the Seattle-King County legal community as “#1 Judge” in its Judicial Evaluation Poll; 2002 JAMS’ “Excellence in Dispute Resolution Award” for 25 years of service in Alternate Dispute Resolution, joining past honorees, White House Counsel, Justice Abner Mikva and U.S. Senator George Mitchell.
Judge Shellan served as President of the Renton Rotary Club, the Washington Bar Association of Municipal Attorneys, and the South King County Bar Association, as well as the King County Bar Foundation.
In June 2014, he was honored by the King County Bar Association with its “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his 64 years of practice as a lawyer and judge. The City of Renton honored him on July 14, 2014, naming it “Jerry Shellan Day.” The mayor presented him a gold key to the City for his 27 years of service as City Attorney.
His primary hobbies were dedicating himself to ADR (Alternate Dispute Resolution), establishing a Foundation at the University of Washington Law School for ADR, and playing tennis.
Although Judge Shellan valued his long and successful legal career, he truly treasured his luncheon and dinner engagements with friends and family which he joyously continued into his 95th year.
Donations may be made to the King County Bar Foundation, The Judge Gerard M. Shellan Fund for Alternate Dispute Resolution, UW Law School, Children’s Hospital, or any charity of your choice.
