Bob Shapiro’s memorial service at the NYC Yale Club Nov. 16 was crowded with classmates who knew him from Yale as well as those of us who met him more recently through the class lunches he co-founded and through many other Yale connections. His wife, Connie, his children, Philip and Elana, his parents, Millie and Harold Shapiro, his sisters, Nancy and Linda, along with many other family members and Bill Blumberg, a friend from Bob’s junior high school days, also attended.
Scroll down to the Comments below this item to read brief excerpts from the service.
Click here for Bob’s In Memoriam page including remembrances from those who spoke at the service and who wrote to Catherine Ross, Bob’s Trumbull classmate, who organized the service along with Bill Primps (mc at the service), Andy Sherman, Stuart Klawans, Harry Levitt, Robbie Quinn, Priscilla Lundin, Jim Kaplan, Carla Horowitz and others. (Must be registered and logged in to view In Memoriam pages.)
NB: Check back for updates, as more will be posted as we receive them.
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The following are messages from friends who were unable to attend the Memorial, some of which were read during the ceremony.
From Kai Erickson, former Master of Trumbull College
Older members of the family are always at a loss for words when younger members are taken away. It feels like a violation of natural law. And when the departed person has a very special place in one’s already crowded memory, as Bob does in mine, the loss of words is so utterly complete that it becomes a tribute. That is why I wish so much that I could be with you today in a gathering where feelings are what matter.
From Darryle Pollack:
Even though we were both in Trumbull College, I never really knew Bob back in our Yale days. He was one of many aspects of Yale I didn’t appreciate while I was there. Probably I was too immature to really appreciate Bob—and Yale—back then.
I did appreciate Bob by the time I got to know him a little, which was in the last year of his life. By that time, I had had cancer too. I had some insight into what Bob was going through—although I still could not begin to imagine the courage and character Bob displayed in his battle against cancer. I could only support his strength, his will, and his love and pride in his family, which sustained him throughout his struggle.
So, many years beyond our Yale days, I finally got to know Bob Shapiro. And I am honored that I had the opportunity.
From Shad Dabaghi:
. . . I am disappointed that I cannot make it to the memorial service. . . . My thoughts and prayers will be with Connie, Phil and Elana on 11/16 and with all of our classmates who will be attending the memorial service.
From Rabbi Mindy Portnoy:
How much I wish I could be with all of you on November 16th. Unfortunately, the weekends are my busiest time of work . . .
It’s still so hard to believe that Bob is gone; the last time I’d seen him was at Robbie Schneider’s daughter’s Bat Mitzvah ceremony at my Temple . . . I knew he was ill, but not to that degree. He was such a good friend to me when I was just a lowly sophomore in Trumbull.
. . .
. . . May Bob’s great smile and great soul be with us always.
From Gail Henry:
Unfortunately I have one commitment in November (other than Thanksgiving) and it’s on the 16th . A bunch of us are going to see Tina Turner in Boston that night. . . .. .
I had a lovely long talk with [Connie] just yesterday. I’m sort of the expert on widowhood, being the first in our crowd to go there, and I’d like to think I’m something of a help. Not that there’s really any help, but knowing you’re not alone is some small comfort.
I’ll be there in spirit on the 16th, and will certainly keep coming to reunions. I told Connie I expected her to come too, and she said she will. By 2011, I’m sure she’ll be in a better frame of mind.
. . . The one day I’ll really be thinking of Bob is November 4, if all goes according to plan!
An excerpt from Catherine Ross’s remembrance at the service follows; visit Bob’s In Memoriam page to view the complete text.
Remembering Bob Shapiro
Comments by Catherine Ross
The first thing I remember about Bob after I met him in Trumbull is his voice coming into the room from WYBC. It was a wonderful voice—in tone, excitement and passion. Not a sports fan, having seen one basketball game in my life, I came to look forward to Bob’s broadcasts for their sheer energy and learned something about the game from him which saved me from complete embarrassment in later years with my teenage son. . . .