Craig L. Shotwell

Craig L. Shotwell, 70, of Northumberland, PA passed away on December 24, 2018 after an extended illness. Craig was born in Berwick on June 22, 1948 and graduated from Berwick High School in 1966. He graduated form Bloomsburg University with a Bachelors degree in Education and a Masters degree in Exceptionalities. He is survived by his mother, Lois Shotwell of Berwick, his life partner, Sharon Cashman of Northumberland; his sister, Beth Baker and her partner, Andy Schwartzberg of Doylestown, PA; his brother, Olin Shotwell and his wife, Kate of Bloomsburg; a niece Gretchen Shotwell of New Orleans, LA; and nephews, Jared Baker of Doylestown, Fred Shotwell of Berwick and many lifelong friends. His father, Henry Shotwell and grandparents, Walter and Zuletta Rood and Gertrude and Olin Shotwell preceded him in death. Following graduation from BU, Craig began a career in education at the Shikellamy School District and started Shikellamy's first Alternative Education Program. Later he moved into teaching Special Education and helped to establish basketball as a Special Olympic event in PA. He coached one of the first PA Special Olympic Basketball Teams, meeting other first teams from New York and New Jersey at Cabrini College outside Philadelphia in the first regional event for the fledgling Special Olympic Basketball Program. Many years after those first tournaments, the Special Olympic World Summer Games now includes basketball among their team sports. Back at Shik, Craig began coaching field events for the track program. He coached throughout his career until his retirement in 2005. But he just couldn't stay away and began working the track meets, timing events and encouraging young competitors. Athletic competition has been important throughout Craig's life. During high school, he was an outstanding competitor in football, basketball and track and was inducted into The Berwick High School Sports Hall of Fame. In his 40's he began participating in competitive cycling, winning awards in the senior division in local and regional events. He spent summer vacations touring Europe and following the Tour de France on his prized Pinarello bicycle. He earned a coveted certificate for cycling up Alpe D' Huez, one of the highest points in the French Alps. Craig cycled throughout the French, Swiss and Italian Alps, riding the same roads and mountains as the premier cyclists of the world...admittedly at a slower pace. His personal log of daily local rides records a distance that exceeds the circumference of the earth twice over. His favorite route was one he named his "Tour de Ville": Danville, Washingtonville, Turbotville and Montoursville. Craig was a person of deep and diverse abilities and interests. He was highly respected as an educator by his peers and loved by his students. An avid sports fan, he traveled to games in support of Notre Dame and the New York Yankees. He loved music and had an encyclopedic knowledge of genres from opera to jazz and rock. He was an avid reader, consuming volumes of mysteries, biographies, history, science and nature. He was an amateur photographer who captured the beauty of nature on his many bicycle rides. Craig was active in his school and community. He was a member of National Education Association and the Pennsylvania State Education Association and served as a building representative and negotiator for the Shikellamy Education Association. He served on the district assessment and strategic planning committees. He was a member of the Northumberland Fire Company No. 1. He served as a Board Member of the Kauffman and Degenstein Libraries, Sunbury, PA and the fundraising committee for the new Degenstein Community Library. He instructed educational summer programs on bicycle safety for children at the Priestley - Forsyth Library, Northumberland, PA and participated in long distance bicycle fundraising rides for charities. Craig Shotwell had a life well lived! Friends may call at the Kelchner -McMichael-Baker Funeral Home, 121 East Third Street, Berwick, PA on January 2, 2019 from to a.m. with interment at Pine Grove Cemetery, Walnut Street, Berwick, PA to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shikellamy College Aid Fund/ Craig L Shotwell Scholarship, Shikellamy High School, 600 Walnut Street, Sunbury, PA 17801.