John R. Shuman of Pequea died at Hospice, Mount Joy, on April 4, 2014. He was 59. Dr. Shuman was born in Lancaster, a son of the late John W. Jr. and Blanche L. Henry Shuman of Holtwood. His grandparents were the late Richard L. and Ruth I. Shrom Henry of Chestnut Level and the late John W. Sr. and Helen M. Gaul Shuman of Quarryville. He grew up in southern Lancaster County, where he played baseball and softball, enjoyed fishing and hunting, and collected things to look at under his microscope. Dr. Shuman graduated from Penn Manor High School in 1973, earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Millersville University in 1978, and earned a doctorate in environmental biology from Kansas State University in 1988. During graduate school, he met his wife, Terri. They were married in her hometown of Macomb, Ill., on June 5, 1982.
He carried his formative experiences exploring the lands and waters of the Susquehanna River Hills forward in a lifelong pursuit of water resource protection. He was particularly concerned about the health of the Susquehanna River watershed and its downstream impacts on the Chesapeake Bay. Dr. Shuman worked as an aquatic ecologist. He was employed by the St. Johns River Water Management District, Palatka, Fla. He also worked with environmental consulting firms, most recently with JMT in Sparks, Md., and York. He also formed his own company, Downstream Solutions. Dr. Shuman wrote and presented numerous scientific papers and technical reports on sediment transport and loading, dam removal, rare species assessments, and river and stream water quality. He was president of the Octoraro Watershed Association and president-elect of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Water Resources Association when he became ill. Dr. Shuman enjoyed summer camping trips to Maine. He was a lifelong Baltimore Orioles fan. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Theresa J. Warnock Shuman of Pequea; two children, Claudia R. Shuman of Lewes, Del., and Erich C. Shuman of Lancaster; his sister, Vicki, wife of Steven Secord of Toledo, Ohio; his aunts, Doris Shuman Baker of Willow Street and Vera Henry of Chestnut Level; his cousin, Carolyn, wife of Bruce Rhoades of Holtwood; his parents-in-law, John and Mary Warnock of Macomb, Ill.; his brother-in-law, Michael Warnock, fiance of Jill Sappington of Columbia, Mo.; numerous cousins and nephews; and his niece. Friends may call at the Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church, 1068 Chestnut Level Rd., from 10:30 a.m. until noon on Saturday, April 19. A celebration of Dr. Shuman's life will be held at the church at noon on that date with the Rev. Dr. Michael Wilson officiating. A lunch gathering will be held at the church's family life center following the service. His ashes will be privately interred at Chestnut Level Cemetery. His family will spread some of his ashes later in cherished places. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice and Community Care, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster PA 17604 or to the Downstream Solutions Fund at the Lancaster County Community Foundation, 24 W. King St., Suite 201, Lancaster PA 17603. The fund celebrates Dr. Shuman's life by supporting water quality projects on the tributaries of the Susquehanna River. Arrangements were made through Reynolds Funeral and Cremation Services, Quarryville. Comments are closed.
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