Dr. John Forrest Shaw

Dr. John Forrest Shaw, age 91, passed away at home with family in Lighthouse Point, FL, on September 23, 2026.

He was born on April 30, 1935, son of Dr. David & Bertha Shaw and raised in Britt, Iowa.

He attended the University of Iowa and received his Doctor of Medicine degree with high honors. He pursued an internship in Family Practice at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Fl where he met his wife, Ruth Shaw. He served in the US Air Force after his medical training.

Ruth and John Shaw were married for 64 years and raised their 5 children in Lighthouse Point, Florida, where they resided since 1968. Dr. Shaw cared for many families of the Pompano Beach and Lighthouse Point area as their Family Practice Physician on 14th Street Causeway in Pompano Beach for over 40 years, even doing house calls when needed. He served as Chief of Staff at North Broward Hospital on Sample Road.

Dr. Shaw was a lover of all things outdoors – a golfer, watersports lover, avid gardener, bicycler – with a boy-scout-do-it-yourselfer attitude. He was a generous and selfless husband and father. Despite being a private-practice family physician, he rarely ever missed a child’s sports game or school ceremony. He supported local community philanthropic events and local schools as well as the Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society. He was always ready to cheer on two of his favorite teams: the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Miami Dolphins.

Dr. Shaw was preceded in death by his oldest daughter, Robin Selbach (LHP, FL). He is survived by his wife, Ruth Shaw (LHP, FL) and children: Laurie Shaw (LHP, FL), John Shaw (LHP, FL), Chris Shaw (LHP, FL), Elizabeth Shaw (spouse Kurt Briesacher, Atlanta, GA) and son-in-law, John Selbach (LHP, FL). He is also survived by his older brother, Dr. David Shaw (Cresco, Iowa) and 8 grandchildren: Jordan Selbach (spouse Haley, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL), Taylor Selbach (Delray Beach, FL), Kristen Selbach (NYC, NY), Aiden Briesacher (Atlanta, GA), Estella Shaw (Tallahassee, FL), Errol Shaw (Clemson, SC), Maggie Briesacher (Athens, GA) and Forrest Briesacher (Atlanta, GA). He is also survived by 2 great-grandchildren: Cooper Selbach (Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL) and Quinn Rose Selbach (Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL).

A Celebration of Life honoring Dr. John Shaw will occur Saturday, November 7th, 2026, from 4pm – 8pm at HORIZON Lighthouse Point Celebration Center at 4650 N Federal Highway, Lighthouse Point, Fl 33064. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society or St. Paul the Apostle Church in Lighthouse Point, FL.