By: Brianna Wallen
Editor-in-Chief
By: Valentina Toro
Managing Editor
Michael Shea, 74, a longtime English professor and former department chair at the university, died Saturday, Oct. 24, after a hit-and-run collision in New Haven’s Westville neighborhood earlier this month.
Shea was crossing Whalley Avenue near West Rock Avenue shortly after 9 p.m. on Oct. 9 when a rider on what police described as an apparent e-bike struck him. He was taken to Yale New Haven Hospital with serious injuries.
“The response to his actual passing is still quite new and raw,” chair of the English department, Cynthia Stretch, said. “But the response to the news that he had been in a hit-and-run accident was devastating.”
According to police accounts published by the New Haven Independent, Shea and another pedestrian were crossing at a marked crosswalk when the rider passed stopped vehicles, entered the intersection and struck Shea. The rider fled, and the other pedestrian was not injured.
Shea underwent surgery following the collision. Police reviewed surveillance footage from city and private cameras to identify the rider, according to the New Haven Independent.
“It’s obviously completely unacceptable what happened to him,” New Haven Police Chief David Zannelli told the New Haven Independent after the collision.
Shea and his wife had attended an event at nearby Lyric Hall that evening, according to Stretch.
Strech also emphasized that Shea was following pedestrian signals when he was struck.
“Professor Shea was crossing at a crosswalk. He had the walk signal, and all of the cars had stopped,” Stretch said. “So, it wasn’t like he jaywalked or stepped out in front of a moving car or anything like that.”
The collision renewed concerns about pedestrian safety on Whalley Avenue.
Stretch said English professor Andrew Smyth raised those concerns at a Westville Community Management Team meeting after the crash.
Strech said local representatives discussed organizing a meeting at the university about pedestrian safety.
The department plans to follow up after supporting Shea and his family.
Shea taught at the university for more than three decades, teaching Shakespeare, grammar and film analysis.
Outside of the classroom, Shea previously chaired the English Department and served on university committees focused on academics and student life.
“Mike Shea epitomized service, including a decades-long commitment to service with the faculty union, the SCSU chapter of the American Association of University Professors,” Kari Swanson, associate librarian and president of SCSU-AAUP.
Shea also taught generations of students, as he has taught innovative courses in the Honors College for over 25 years.
“His passion was infectious; whether walking by the Honors College Library or his office in the English Department, it was common to see Professor Shea surrounded by students working on their writing or engaging in deep discussion,” Terese Gemme, professor in the music department.
Interim President Sandra Bulmer, who worked with Shea for 28 years, described his dedication to teaching and advocacy for public higher education.
“He was one of our most talented and dedicated faculty members,” Bulmer said.
Alumni Alyssa Reyes said the lessons she learned from Shea continue to shape the way she teaches her own students.
“Professor Shea influenced my approach to teaching without even realizing it,” Reyes said. “His natural ability to impact students’ lives stemmed from the passion he had for teaching, and it is one of the many things I hope to carry on in his honor.”
Stretch said students have discussed creating a memory wall following Shea’s death. She also recalled students describing how he encouraged them to take on challenging work.
Bulmer said her years working alongside Shea showed her the importance he placed on students and colleagues.
“His legacy lives on in the students and faculty colleagues he has taught and mentored during his career at Southern. I will always be grateful that Mike chose to share his life with our Southern community,” Bulmer said.
