WESTPORT, CONN. — Thomas F. Shaughnessy, retired vice-president and general sales manager at ConAgra Flour Milling Co., died April 3 at age 89.
A native of St. Paul, Minn., he graduated from Cretin High School in 1948 and the College of St. Thomas in 1950. Mr. Shaughnessy served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
He joined the Peavey Co. in 1953, working in a laboratory at an Alton, Ill., plant and then moving into sales. Mr. Shaughnessy became eastern regional sales manager in White Plains, N.Y., in 1970, the same year his family moved to Westport.
Mr. Shaughnessy joined ConAgra, Inc. when the company acquired Peavey in 1982, making ConAgra the largest flour milling company in the United States at the time. Mr. Shaughnessy remained eastern regional sales manager in White Plains for ConAgra and then was named a sales vice-president in the flour milling company in 1986. He moved to Omaha in 1987 when he was named vice-president and general sales manager of ConAgra Flour Milling Co.
Mr. Shaughnessy retired in 1995. The American Society of Baking in 2009 recognized Mr. Shaughnessy for being a member for 50 years. He also was active in organizations such as the American Bakers Association and the National Association of Flour Distributors, Inc.
Mr. Shaughnessy is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Tushaus Shaughnessy; sons Tom Shaughnessy (Linda), Pat Shaughnessy (Teri) and John Shaughnessy (Nicole); daughters Elizabeth Dennis (Bob) and Peggy Shaughnessy Lyon (Ross); and 11 grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. May 12 at Assumption Church in Westport. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Cretin-Derham Hall in honor of Thomas F. Shaughnessy Graduate of Cretin 1946.
