Miriam R. Shapiro passed away December 14, 2022, at Highland Hospital surrounded by her loving family. Born in Chicago, IL in 1939, she moved to Rochester, NY in 1961 with her husband, Sanford R. Shapiro, Esq. Miriam and Sandy were married 63 years and have 4 children, Heller An (Daniel Neal), Evan (Steve Count), Douglas T. (Melanie Holcomb), and Orrin T. (deceased). Miriam loved and was beloved by her 7 grandchildren, Amelia and Ida Holcomb, Sophie Shapiro, Eleanor and Alex Neal, and Isabel and Liel Count. Her brother Bill Rosecan, of Camphill Village Ghent survives her.
After careers as a teacher and as a paralegal at Monroe County Legal Aid, she became regional director of the Western NY Cystic Fibrosis Foundation affiliate. She was the top CF fundraiser in the country, and went on to raise money for the University of Rochester, Nazareth University, the Rochester Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial (including helping to design the VVM), and the first Mount Hope Scattering Garden. She volunteered in leadership roles with the Girl Scouts, Community Partners for Youth, the Rochester Regional Transit Association, Monroe County Democratic Committee, Mt. Hope Cemetery, and the Susan B. Anthony House among others. She was a Legislative Aide to Councilmember Gary Muldoon. She participated in a Wednesday morning hiking club. Miriam and Sandy enjoyed sailing with friends from the Rochester Yacht Club, including the annual regatta across Lake Ontario to Toronto. She was a dedicated Buffalo Bills fan and 20-year season ticket holder. Miriam could watch a Bills game on TV and knit a blanket or sweater without missing a stitch or a play. She was an avid reader and a supporter of the Rochester Public Libraries. She always had time to discuss a good book or help you solve a problem. She loved the arts, especially theatre and music at the Eastman Theatre and GEVA, and sculpture and paintings at the Memorial Art Gallery. She taught herself to play guitar through lessons on public TV. She was a caring friend to people of all ages. She opened her heart and home to everyone.
Miriam earned an MA in Education from the University of Rochester while raising 4 children.
Contributions can be made in Miriam’s memory to The Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library https://ffrpl.libraryweb.org/donate-to-ffrpl/ or Camphill Village https://camphillvillage.org/get-involved/donate/
The family will be sitting Shiva Dec 16, 6-8 p.m. and Dec 17 – 18, 4-8 p.m. at 13 Selden Street, Rochester, NY.
A memorial service and reception will be held at The Interfaith Chapel at the University of Rochester, 1045 Wilson Blvd, Rochester, NY 14611 on Monday, December 19, 2022, 11am. Reception to follow.