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Francis J. Collins Funeral Home, Inc. - Silver Spring

500 University Blvd. West

Silver Spring, Maryland

UPCOMING SERVICE

Funeral Mass

Sep. 20, 2025

10:00 a.m.

St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church

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Joseph Shields Obituary

Dr. Joseph J. Shields, Professor Emeritus at the National Catholic School of Social Service (NCSSS) at The Catholic University of America, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76 at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, MD.
A dedicated educator, mentor, and scholar, Dr. Shields served NCSSS for 47 years. He joined the faculty in 1978 and held numerous leadership roles, including Assistant Dean, Chair of the Ph.D. Program, and Coordinator of the MSW Part-Time Program. He was promoted to Ordinary Professor in 2014 and named Professor Emeritus in 2019.
Dr. Shields' research focused on substance use and mental health. He co-founded the Center for the Promotion of Health and Mental Health Well-Being and served as a research scientist at the National Institutes of Health and as a senior advisor at SAMHSA. He authored more than 30 journal articles, eight book chapters, and nine monographs, and was a frequent presenter at professional conferences.
Beyond his academic contributions, Joe was known for his love of politics, football, golf, and time spent with friends and family. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Dr. Mary Jeanne Verdieck, his brother Charles Andrew Shields and his wife; his nephew Christorpher Shields; and his niece Kathleen Lasater, and friends and colleagues.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on September 20, 2025, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 805 Wayne Avenue, Silver Spring, MD.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to NCSSS PhD Scholarship fund in his memory. Checks can be made payable to The Catholic University of America and place in the memo line: NCSSS PhD Scholarship - JJ Shields and mailed to, Division of University of Advancement, C/O William Roth, O'Connel Hall E200, 620 Michigan Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20064.
For an extended obituary, click on the following link: https://www.collinsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Joseph-J-Shields?obId=43817922#/obituaryInfo

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Washington Post on Aug. 3, 2025.

Memorial Events
for Joseph Shields

Sep

20

Funeral Mass

10:00 a.m.

St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church

805 Wayne Avenue, Silver Spring, MD

Funeral services provided by:

Francis J. Collins Funeral Home, Inc. - Silver Spring

500 University Blvd. West, Silver Spring, MD 20901

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