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Obituary: John ‘Jack’ Shea Jr.

By Ashleigh Petersen

April 9, 2023

John “Jack” Shea Jr.John “Jack” Shea Jr., 84, of Woburn, Mass., died March 30, 2023.  

Shea had a career in the rental industry spanning more than 45 years. He helped transform the industry through computerization. As a certified public accountant (CPA), he started in the rental industry as an executive at Taylor Rental in 1973, pioneering the use of computerization in managing rental stores. After leaving Taylor, he founded Solutions by Computer (SBC) in 1982. Over the next three and a half decades, Shea carried out his vision of bringing technology to rental businesses of all sizes. Early on, Shea was met with skepticism and resistance from rental operators, but he did not let that deter his vision of bringing affordable technology to rental businesses of all sizes. He fostered early adopters of his systems and then engaged them to help steer future software development efforts.  

John “Jack” Shea Jr.

SBC was acquired by Constellation Software in 2008, and in 2015, the company joined forces with a portion of Wynne Systems, also owned by Constellation, to form InTempo Software. He retired from the business in 2018. 

Shea was awarded the ARA Special Service Award in 1988 to recognize his industry service and the knowledge he shared with former employees who, over the years, also have become technology leaders. In 2021, he was inducted into the Rental Hall of Fame.  

Shea is survived by his daughter, Lisa (Paul) Barnes; son, John “Jack” (Laura) Shea; daughter-in-law, Donna (Kurt) Johnson; companion, Patricia “Pat” Kane; and grandchildren, David Garreffa, John Shea, Brian Shea and Jenna Rawlings. He is preceded in death by his wife, Ann; son, Peter; daughter-in-law, Julie Shea; and sister, Ann Farrell.