In Memoriam:
Dr. John Richard Shrum
Dr. John Richard Shrum, a vibrant soul of 66 years, passed away on the morning of May 23, 2015, during an early shuffle-jog just after dawn. Born on December 18, 1948, in Lexington, Kentucky, John was the son of Maureen Parrott Shrum and Dr. Richard Coffman Shrum. His early years were spent on Army bases in Lexington, Fort Leavenworth, and Munich, before his family settled on Locust Avenue in Charlottesville, Virginia.
John began first grade at Burnley Moran and graduated from Lane High School. Following a year at Phillips Exeter Academy, he eagerly pursued his dream of attending the University of Virginia (UVA). He graduated from the College in 1971 and the School of Medicine in 1977. His medical journey took him to Charity Hospital in New Orleans for an internal medicine residency, where he fell in love with the city, before returning to UVA to specialize in dermatology.
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In Charlottesville, John established a dermatology practice with satellite offices in Clifton Forge and Farmville. He brought warmth, empathy, and insight to every patient he treated, leaving a lasting impression on all who met him.
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A Life of Athleticism and Passion
John was a lifelong athlete and sports enthusiast. From basketball at Lane High to swimming and coaching at Fry’s Spring Beach Club, and breaking school records as co-captain of UVA’s swim team, his athletic achievements were numerous. He competed in marathons, triathlons, and open water swims, earning titles as a U.S. Masters Swimming Open Water National Champion multiple times. Notably, he swam around Manhattan in 1983 and 1985 and participated in a family relay across the English Channel in 1998.
A proud supporter of UVA athletics, John cherished fall Saturdays at Scott Stadium and celebrated iconic moments, including rushing the court after UVA’s 2014 basketball victory over Syracuse.
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A Lifelong Learner and Music Enthusiast
John’s insatiable curiosity and love for learning were evident in his extensive reading. Shelby Foote’s The Civil War: A Narrative remained a perennial favorite among his explorations of history, sports, and music. His passion for music led him to play trumpet in his youth and electric guitar as an adult. With his beloved wife, Ellen, he attended concerts by legends such as B.B. King, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, and Tina Turner.
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Family and Legacy
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John met the love of his life, Ellen Olin, at Graves Mountain Lodge in 1969. After a six-year courtship, they married in 1975 and raised four children in a home filled with laughter, warmth, and endless activity. He was a devoted father and a playful “Pops” to five grandchildren, sharing his humor, love of learning, and zest for life.
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John is survived by his cherished wife, Ellen; his children, Martha Maureen Sharpton, John Joseph Shrum, Katherine Olin Shrum, and James Richard Shrum; his grandchildren, Tucker Brady Sharpton, Avery Jameson Sharpton, Bodie William Sharpton, Calais Adeline Shrum, and Olin Rivers Shrum; his brother, Dr. Joseph Parrot Shrum; and his extended family, each of whom he adored deeply.
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John’s humor, warmth, and passion for life touched everyone he met. His loss is felt profoundly by his family, friends, colleagues, and patients, but his legacy of kindness and joy lives on in all who knew him.