8 minute read
The Shaak Family: Anchored in Love, Family, Faith and Friends
Resident Feature by Sheila Turner-Hilliard
Photos by Sierra Clark Photography www.SierraClarkPhoto.com
Thanks to Alpha Century Security of Newtown Square for sponsoring our Resident Feature.
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Meet the Shaak Family: Jamie, Heather, Carter and Ella. From salty air and sand in their hair, to ski slopes and Scottsdale, this family has got what it takes to fully appreciate family time mixed with fun!
Jamie was born and raised just down the road in Ridley. He graduated from Ridley High School where he played basketball for the Green Raiders. He is also a proud 2012 inductee to the Ridley Township Basketball Hall of Fame. If you grew up in Ridley, you probably knew a few of Jamie Shaak’s siblings. It would be hard not to because Jamie is one of eight, with five brothers and two sisters. In fact, if you live in Delaware County today, you probably know a Shaak or two, because they all still live within driving distance of each other.
Jamie stayed local after high school and attended Cabrini College. He continued his basketball career with the Cabrini Cavaliers and worked in Cabrini’s Business Development office. Jamie then graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a minor in Marketing. After living in West Conshohocken for a few years, he headed out west to Silicon Valley, to work for an internet start-up company. Jamie’s career then led him to Arlington VA, but eventually his heart brought him back home to be closer to his family.
Heather and Jamie Shaak
Photo by Sierra Clark Photography www.SierraClarkPhoto.com
Being one of eight siblings is impressive, but not as impressive as being one of nine, like Heather is! So, if you grew up in Southampton Bucks County, you surely knew at least one of the Rupprecht kids. Heather has five sisters and three brothers who, like Jamie’s family, are close-knit and live locally. She attended Archbishop Wood High School where she was active in the Drama Club. Heather then earned her Associate degree in Business from Bucks County Community College. Prior to having children, she worked for Brokerage Concepts, Inc., a third-party administrator in health insurance as a Stop Loss Coordinator, handling catastrophic cases in the claims department.
Jamie and Heather first met in Sea Isle City, NJ, in the summer of 1998, when the shore houses they were each renting with friends were literally one door away. Heather and her friends were on the bottom floor of the duplex and Jamie and his buddies shared the top. Although they didn’t start dating seriously for a few years, the flame stayed alive. “I was always intrigued and excited by Jamie’s spontaneity and energetic personality,” said Heather. “So, for our first date, in true Jamie fashion, he took me on a day trip to Washington, DC, for a fun-filled adventure of sightseeing and a visit to the Smithsonian.”
Heather and Jamie’s relationship continued to blossom, and on Christmas Eve 2004, he popped the question. But Jamie had a few little tricks up his sleeve first. In the weeks leading up to the big day, he joked that he was going to splurge and get Heather a vacuum cleaner for a Christmas gift. Deep down, she was hoping for a ring. It seemed as though Jamie wasn’t kidding when it came time to exchange gifts. Sure enough, Heather peeled the wrapping paper off the largest box in the bunch to reveal the Cadillac of vacuums, a Dyson. Heather said, “But as I opened the box, I saw that instead of a vacuum inside, there was a jewelry box that held a beautiful princess cut diamond engagement ring!” What Heather also didn’t know at the time was that Jamie had hidden a video camera that captured the whole proposal. Clips from that video were later incorporated into their wedding video.
So, with what Heather described as her “circle of trust” on her hand, wedding plans got under way. Because Jamie and Heather met at the beach, they wanted to tie the knot at the spot where it all began. With the location set, it was time to invite guests. But such lists can get pretty lengthy when you’re both from large families, so the couple decided to keep it to immediate family and closest friends.
They were married at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Sea Isle City, on a gorgeous late-September day in 2005. After the ceremony, they were to head to the Avalon Yacht Club, but not before one more surprise from — you guessed it — Jamie! Unbeknownst to Heather, Jamie had arranged a romantic boat ride to the reception with his beautiful bride. Heather recalls, “Our wedding day was beautiful and intimate, filled with love and salt air.”
Carter and Ella Shaak
Photo by Sierra Clark Photography www.SierraClarkPhoto.com
First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Carter, the oldest of Jamie and Heather’s two children. Carter, an 8th-grade Distinguished Honor Roll student at Devon Prep, loves sports, science, music and coding. He is also one of the few people on this planet who can actually solve a Rubik’s Cube! Carter recently received his black belt in karate, and is looking forward to running track for his school this spring. In 2019, he placed 5th in the Long Jump at the Archdiocesan Championship finals, by landing an impressive 15' 5½". Like his parents, Carter loves the beach and can be found entertaining fellow beachgoers with front flips and twisting back flips.
Ella, a 7th-grade student at the Academy of Notre Dame, is a smart, kind and talented young lady. She has been dancing since the age of two; is a member of Notre Dame Academy’s dance team; and recently competed on her dance studio’s competition company. She trains in ballet, pointe, modern, tap and jazz, and has received numerous regional and national awards including one for her tap solo performance. Ella is crafty like her mom, and loves to bake. But she also loves fishing and camping outside with her dad and Carter. Every summer, you’ll find Ella at the beach, riding bikes, dancing and swimming with her friends and cousins. She’ll occasionally stop moving and grooving to enjoy an “Ella Original” smoothie or acai bowl.
Raising Ella and Carter in an active, safe and close-knit community was a priority for Heather and Jamie, and that’s why they chose to settle down in Newtown Square.
Heather recalled the day they first moved into their new neighborhood. “We were amazed at just how active this community is!” She says that on any given day, you’ll see families walking, running and biking together.
(L-R): Heather, Carter, Ella and Jamie Shaak at Ridley Creek State Park
Photo by Sierra Clark Photography www.SierraClarkPhoto.com
Jamie is currently the Senior Vice President of Sales for Oliver Technology Corporation, which develops collection litigation software. “I’ve always been interested in technology,” said Jamie. “It’s very satisfying to work with an organization that develops software to help solve business problems and drive efficiencies that help companies become more successful.”
These days, you’ll find Heather volunteering for her children’s school fundraisers and local community events. She also enjoys tapping into her creative and crafty side. She is always up for a project, whether it be chalk-painting frames and furniture or designing and making custom costumes for her daughter’s dance studio. Jamie enjoys coaching for several area basketball programs and has fond memories of coaching his son’s Newtown Edgmont Little League team. Heather and Jamie love doing home projects together and recently completed a mudroom makeover including re-tiling the floor.
The Shaak Family (L-R): Ella, Heather, Jamie and Carter
Photo by Sierra Clark Photography www.SierraClarkPhoto.com
As much as the Shaak family loves spending time with their relatives and friends here in Newtown Square, their zest for adventure has them frequently hitting the road. Jamie and Heather recently built a home of their own in Sea Isle, where they fill their summer days with beach time, biking, corn hole games, happy hours with friends and extended-family fun.
When things cool down in the winter months, Jamie, Heather and the kids hit the slopes at Elk Mountain while staying with nearby family and cousins. And when they really want to turn up the heat, they pack their bags for Scottsdale, Arizona, to stay at their favorite resort and enjoy the pools, waterslides and hiking in Red Rock State Park.
It’s inevitable that when you collectively have 17 siblings and countless cousins for your kids, family comes first. But when you work hard to create opportunities for them all to enjoy life and laughter together, that’s a win. When it’s on the beach? A win-win!
Do you know a Newtown Square resident, family or organization that should become known by our community? Make your nominations for upcoming magazine features by emailing your ideas to Sheila Turner-Hilliard at STurnerHilliard@BestVersionMedia.com.
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