Joseph Anthony Shivers
Joseph Anthony Shivers
1948-2026
SALEM — Joseph Anthony Shivers of Salem, Ohio, died on March 10, 2026, after a long battle with cancer. He was at home with his devoted wife, Madeline, and sons, Joseph and Brian. He was 77.
Joe was born on March 22, 1948, to John D. and Margaret Vietmeier Shivers. He was the first of 11 children.
He graduated from Salem High School in 1966 and from Baldwin-Wallace College in 1970. He earned a master’s degree in education at Ohio State University in 1982, a master’s degree in education from Harvard University in 1985, and a doctorate in education from Harvard in 1989.
His career as an educator began with substitute teaching after college.
He taught eighth grade at St. Paul School in Salem and then served in the Peace Corps in South Korea where he taught English at Pusan National University. Back in the States, he taught at Saints Peter and Paul Seminary High School in Newark and then worked as the government programs director for the Catholic Diocese of Columbus.
After graduate school in Boston, Joe returned to Ohio in 1989 to serve as an administrator for the Kirtland Public Schools. He then served as the principal at East Palestine Middle School (1992-1997); South Side Middle School in Columbiana (1997-1998); and Columbiana High School (1998-2001).
He began work at the Salem City Schools in 2001 as Director of Curriculum and Instruction and Director of Testing and Personnel. He was Salem’s Middle School Principal (2005-2006), High School Principal (2006-2014), and Superintendent (2014-2019). In retirement, he served on the Salem Board of Education (2019-2023) and operated a private tutoring company, Dr. Joe’s Learning Center.
Joe was blessed to receive excellent care from compassionate healthcare professionals. The family thanks the extraordinary nurses at the Salem Regional Medical Center Oncology Unit, Ohio Living, and WellBe; personal care aide Betty Hinchliffe; and his physicians Jeffrey Cohen, D.O., of Mercy Health; Ranga Sai Brahmamdam, M.D., of SRMC-University Hospital; Alok Khorana, M.D. of Cleveland Clinic; and Jeffrey Janda, M.D., of WellBe Senior Medical.
Joe is survived by his wife of 43 years, Madeline Patton Shivers; son Dr. Joseph P. Shivers and his wife, Sarah Meister of Pittsburgh, Pa.; son Brian D. Shivers of New York City; and grandsons Owen and Henry Shivers of Pittsburgh; siblings Jane Stone, John D. Shivers Jr., Jim Shivers, Marjorie Shivers, Paul K. Shivers and wife Laura, William Shivers and wife Lori, R. Mark Shivers and wife Jeanine, and Mary Beth Shivers, all of Salem; aunt, Lauretta Amos of Salem; in-laws, Patti Cooper and husband Chuck, and M. Joyce Patton, all of Bexley, Ohio; and M. Denise Patton of Salem; many beloved nieces and nephews, and many other relatives and friends.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, sister Carolyn Shivers, brother Tommy Shivers, nephews Tommy Stone and John D. Shivers III, sister-in-law Paula Shivers, brother-in-law Tom Patton, and parents-in-law Thomas J. and Mary Madeline Patton.
Calling hours at Stark Memorial, 1014 East State St., Salem are 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 13, 2026. The funeral Mass is at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 14, 2026, at St. Paul Catholic Church with Monsignor Jay Clarke officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Joe’s memory to the Salem High School Alumni Association, 330 East State St., Salem, OH 44460.
To read Joe’s full obituary and send condolences, visit www.starkmemorial.com.
3/12/26