Berlin -

Paula "Polly" Rauer Shaud died on December 10th at home in Berlin, Massachusetts. She was born in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. In high school she met the love of her life, Jim Shaud, while playing flute in the band. They were married in 1962 and celebrated their 53rd anniversary this past summer. In 1961, she graduated from Oberlin College, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi, and she later received a master’s degree from Radcliffe College in 1962.

Polly was a high school math teacher, and taught at John Burroughs School in St. Louis, Missouri and later in Sacramento, California. In 1966, Jim became pastor at Faith Lutheran Church, and they moved to Cicero, New York. Polly taught for forty years in North Syracuse, New York, where she was the math team coach for many years. After retirement she served as a tutor for the North Syracuse district for homebound students. When Jim retired in 2004, they became involved in a dual parish in Redwood and Orleans, New York. It was here that Polly put her keyboard skill to use, playing organ for the Sunday service for six years.

Polly is survived by her husband, The Rev. James "Jim" Shaud; son Andrew Shaud and his wife Jenifer and grandson Ephraim, of Baltimore, MD; and son Daniel Shaud and his wife Summer, and grandson Linus, of Framingham, MA.

To honor Polly's great love of music, play or listen to a Scott Joplin rag.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, December 16th at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Northborough. Please omit flowers. Donations may be made in Polly's memory to the Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury Street, Worcester MA 01609.