Greenskeeper who loved the outdoors and spending time with friends

Published January 14, 2021

Updated from the print edition on January 16, 2021

NORTH READING — Shawn Michael Dalton, 46, of North Reading, died on January 10, 2021 of an injury sustained at home.

Born in Lynn on July 1, 1974, he was the youngest of five children. Shawn graduated from North Reading High School in 1992 and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he received a bachelor of science degree in horticulture.

Shawn was a greenskeeper at Phillips Academy in Andover for 19 years. His love for the outdoors was no secret to anyone. He was a very hard, dedicated worker. Even at home he was always outside splitting wood, mowing the lawn, and enjoying a bonfire, which were among his past times. He loved his trips to Florida where he lived for a short time.

Shawn had such a special relationship with his father and mother. Dad always made sure he got his pizza, skiing trips, and a trip to Prince Edward Island every year. Shawn also took very close care of his mother until she passed in 2019.

Shawn was a very social person and he had numerous friends. He shared many lunches with Howard Arnold and Kevin Kiley, to name a few, and he had wonderful neighbors, including Greg and Jimmy, and enjoyed yearly visits from cousin Larry Woolridge. Shawn will be missed by many.

He had two cats that he absolutely adored. Snappy and Charlotte were his at-home companions.

Family members include his brother, James Dalton and his late wife Cheryl; his sisters, Paula Sollazzo and her husband Frank, and Pamela Howe and her husband Bobbie. He was the loving uncle to his nieces and nephews, Marc and Bryan Sollazzo, Ashley Terranova, Christopher, Kelly and Stacy Howe, and Nicholas, Danielle and Briana Dalton. Shawn was the great uncle of Samantha Cauldwell, Miabella and Joseph Sollazzo, Trevor Howe and Vincent Terranova. He had many relatives in Toronto and Prince Edward Island, Canada. He was predeceased by his parents, M. Charlotte Dalton and F. Chester Dalton, and by his brother, Wayne Dalton.

His funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading, on Tuesday, January 19 at 9 a.m. followed by a 10:30 a.m. funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter St. (Rte. 62), North Reading. Calling hours will be held on Monday, January 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit: www.croswellfuneralhome.com.