Jason Shields, American Patriot...Rest in Peace

Written by David DiCrescenzo on . Posted in Obituaries

Loving dad and husband, Patriot, great friend; all of these and a lot more describe Jason Shields.  If you had asked him for his proudest success and achievement, he would have told you without a moment’s hesitation about his two children and their love of Jesus.  Because that’s who Jason was; a devoted Christian, who above all else, loved God and his family.

I only knew Jason for about four years; however I was blessed to know him very well and was proud to number him among my very closest of friends.  We worked in the South Florida 912 and Tea Party movement together, stood on street corners with signs for candidates, talked to people about what is going on in our country and world, went to political events, attended church and prayed together a lot, and so much more.  

I can’t remember all the times we broke bread together or had a beer with mutual friends.  Even within the last year, Jason and I had some great times.  I remember when he was originally diagnosed with cancer back around 2010.  I remember it because for a while back then when things weren’t looking good, he and I talked about going down to a firing range and making some noise, and for the longest time it looked like we might never get the chance to do so.  Then, things turned around for a while and he was on the mend, and I said something like, “Shields, grab some guns, let’s go do some shooting while we can,” and we did; that was almost two years ago.

More recently still, last October, I helped Jason DJ a Halloween bash up in Jupiter, a week or so later on the day after Election Day a bunch of us; including me, Doug and Shannon Armstrong, and Jason and his wife Candi, took a walk on the beach in Lake Worth.  We all cried on each other’s shoulders over the results, Jason and I smoked a cigar, and we all found a bar just opening for lunch and enjoyed a cocktail together.  Just a few weeks after that, we were at his home for a holiday party on a chilly Florida evening with a fire pit blazing in the yard, and this past March, Jason and I replaced the brakes on Candi’s car.

The bottom line is that Jason Shields was the kind of guy that people just liked to be around.  He was full of life, loved everyone, and enjoyed every minute he could of his all too brief time here.  Even when the pain and discomfort must have been unimaginable for him, he never complained…because he was always busy making sure that everyone else was okay.  He did so with such grace

Jason Shields succumbed to cancer on Saturday, 9/7/13; he wouldn’t have wanted us to mourn, even though we will.  Jason didn’t die however, he simply got to be with Jesus before the rest of us, and that is something we can celebrate.  God bless you Jason Shields; knowing your legacy, I can’t help but think that you were welcomed into Heaven with a resounding “…well done, good and faithful servant.”

See you soon my friend.