Obituary: M. John Shamo

Judge M. John Shamo, a native of Detroit, died Nov. 24 in United Hospital, St. Paul, Minn., after a long illness. He was 82.

Shamo was born in Detroit on March 31, 1934.

He graduated from Eastern High School in Detroit in 1951. After a brief stint in the U.S. Army, he went on to study law at the University of Detroit, graduating with his law degree in 1965.

Shamo practiced civil and criminal law for 10 years before being elected a Detroit Traffic Court referee.

The Michigan Supreme Court later appointed Shamo permanent presiding judge of Traffic Court. He was elected to the Detroit Recorder’s Court as a criminal division judge in September 1981.

Shamo was a member of the American Judges Association, John Smith Old Timers, Detroit Crisis Club and Grosse Pointe Crisis Club.

He retired in 1997 and did visiting judge work and mediation for about 15 years in Wayne and Macomb counties.

He is survived by wife Carol Shamo of St. Paul, stepdaughter Susan Barbieri (Peter Crocker) and granddaughter Lily-Anna Crocker of St. Paul, stepson Paul Barbieri (Victoria) of Clinton Township, sisters
Amelia and Virginia of Grosse Pointe Woods, and nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held in Michigan at a later date.

The family suggests that any tribute donations be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601, or at www.alz.org.