Arthur Bishop Shepard

CAPT Arthur Bishop Shepard III (USCG, ret) of Georgetown, Texas, passed away on February 21, 2023, just before his 84th birthday. He was born on March 6, 1939, in Astoria, NY, and raised in a small mill town in Pascoag, RI. Art was someone who faced adversity and embraced challenges with strength and grace throughout his entire life.

One of five children, his father passed when he was ten, and he was raised to apply strong work ethic, integrity, and a sense of humor to accomplish his objectives. After receiving an appointment to the discerning US Coast Guard Academy, he was set back by a hernia operation that forced him to reapply, ultimately graduating with the Class of 1963 with a degree in Oceanography and a varsity letter for football. This launched a fascinating career that spanned 30 years – including tours for riverine duty in Viet Nam, conducting oceanographic research, sailing on an ice breaker in the Antarctic, managing life safety in the Great Lakes, representing his Service at NATO, and securing one of the largest counter-narcotic busts by the USCG at the time off Florida. After retiring with honors, he went to cooking school at Johnson & Wales, pursuing his passion for food and chocolate, but always remaining close to his “Coastie” roots.

True to his grit and endurance, when he contracted acute myeloid leukemia in 2000, he battled fiercely, ultimately receiving a life-saving stem cell transplant from his brother, Tim, in 2001, to achieve remission. This allowed him another 22 years to share with family and friends – and we are also grateful to the brilliant staff at MD Anderson Cancer Center who enabled this miracle.

Settling in Texas, he is survived by his wife, FJ “Pete” Shepard, as well his daughter from a previous marriage, Stacey Shepard Williamson, and her husband Wayne. In addition, he is also survived by all four siblings: Sheila McKaig, Jack Shepard, Tim Shepard, and Noreen Taylor – as well as a host of loving nieces, nephews, and longtime friends from around the world.

Art left a loving imprint on all he touched, with a huge heart and an infectious laugh. He will be missed by all. Art’s family and friends will be celebrating his life on Friday, May 5, 2023, at 11:00am at the US Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT. For details on this event, please contact the family at [email protected].

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Art’s name to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or to the USCG Academy Alumni Association Class of ’63. The links are provided below.