Obituary of Laurence E. Shapiro

Sudbury, MA- Laurence E. Shapiro, 90, formerly of Waterbury and Southbury, CT, passed away on Sunday, January 31, 2016. He was the widower of Deborah (Davidson) Shapiro who was the love of his life. They were married for 50 years. He was brother to Dr. Sidney N. Shapiro of Glastonbury, CT. He was born in 1925 in Waterbury, CT, son of Elizabeth (Goldberg) and Herman Shapiro. As a teenager he worked in his family's butcher shop. He was a graduate of Crosby High School and Southern Connecticut State University, and earned graduate degrees in educational administration at Yale University and the University of Connecticut. He served in the Medical Department of the Navy during World War II as a bacteriologist and epidemiologist. After the war, while attending college on the GI Bill, he was a shoe salesman and a taxi driver. Laurence was a member of the professional faculty of the Wolcott, CT Public School System for 29 years. He taught at Frisbee Elementary School for four years, then at Wolcott High School as Assistant Principal for 8 years and Principal for 14 years. Upon his retirement from Wolcott High School in 1982, they named their newly constructed Resource Center in his honor. During that same period he served in appointive and elected offices of The Connecticut Association of Secondary Schools, notably as President of the Association, Executive Director for High Schools, and finally as Asst. Executive Director Emeritus. He served on Gov. William O’Neil’s Task Force on Guidance and Counseling in Connecticut Schools. He retired from CASS in 1995. In 1990 Laurence and Deborah moved to Heritage Village in Southbury CT. Laurence was elected to the Board of Education in Southbury, where he served two terms. He was also a Condo 10 President and a Trustee of Heritage Village. During his career he received awards for distinguished professional service from eleven organizations, among them the National Assoc. of Secondary School Principals, the CT Assoc. of Secondary Schools, the elementary and Middle School Principals Assn. of CT, the CT Federation of Student Councils, the National Honor Society of The United States, the Wolcott Chamber of Commerce, the Wolcott Board of Education and The American Field Service. Laurence and his wife, Deborah, were members of Beth El Synagogue of Waterbury and Southbury, CT for over 50 years, where he served on its board in several capacities, including President. He served for five terms as President of Ridgewood Swim and Tennis Club of Prospect, CT. He was a consultant in school administration, and was a volunteer docent and served on the Board of Directors at Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, CT. Laurence moved to Massachusetts in 2009 to be near his daughter, Judi, and her family. He will be missed by his children, Judi and Doug Bajgot of Sudbury, Mass., and Dana Shapiro of Chicago, IL, his two grandchildren, Molly and Sam, as well as nieces, nephews and cousins and numerous friends. Arrangements- A Graveside Service for Mr. Shapiro will be held 11:30 A.M, Thursday, February 4, 2016 at Beth El Cemetery, Boyden Street, Waterbury. Family and friends are asked to meet directly at the cemetery. There will be a gathering after the burial at the Marriott Courtyard, 63 Grand St., Waterbury. The Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Waterbury, 9 Holmes Ave, 06710 is assisting with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Deborah Davidson Memorial Fund, c/o Connecticut Community Foundation, 43 Field St., Waterbury, CT www.conncf.org, or to the Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011, www.alz.org.