Robert Louis Shapiro, Sr., age 75, passed away at home on March 19, 2021 after a 2½ year battle with cancer. In sickness and in health he was surrounded by his family, who are mourning the passing of a remarkable man, who loved life, family, barbershop quartet singing, and thinking outside the box. Bob was born in the Bronx, NY to Harry L. Shapiro and Ann M. Shapiro (Miller). He graduated from Fordham University, College of Pharmacy in 1968. He worked as a pharmacist at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City, before moving to Los Angeles to open a retail pharmacy with his brother, Jerry Shapiro. He later moved back to the East coast, where he worked as a manager for Merck Medco’s Mail Order Prescription division (first in New Jersey, and then in Massachusetts).
He also worked as a computer programmer in Cambridge, and as a mathematics teacher in Methuen and Tewksbury. He loved his family, barbershop quartet singing, composing barbershop-style songs, directing the Haverhill Townsmen Chorus, discussing national and international politics and economics, running for political office, and following the stock market. He also patented an energy recovery system for automotive engines. In addition to having a wonderful singing voice, Bob was an accomplished ballroom dancer, who competed with his instructor (who happened to be his daughter). You can see the duo performing their Father-Daughter dance at Maria T’s wedding to Raymond in 2013 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVYGuz0Mtws
He will be sorely missed by his wife of 51 years, Maria Grabowski Shapiro; his son, Robert and daughter-in-law, Colleen of Lunenburg, Massachusetts; his daughter, Maria Theresa and her husband, Raymond Huard of Bedford, NH; his five grandchildren, Sophie, Tristan, Dara, Abigail and Phaedra; his brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Rose Shapiro of Las Vegas, Nevada; as well as numerous nieces and nephews, and by incredible friends, Rand and Maureen Morse.
Due to COVID-19 considerations, the funeral service will be private. Interment will be in West Parish Garden Cemetery in Andover. A memorial Mass at St. Robert Bellarmine Parish is being planned for later in the year.
In lieu of flowers, Bob’s family requests that you do a good deed in his memory.