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.
Missing my wonderful and loving cousin Mir.
I’m so sorry for your loss. What an amazing woman. She will be truly missed.
My deepest condolences to the family. Your family was a bright spot in the neighborhood and your Mom was an inspiration to me. May her memory be a blessing to all.
Sending my deepest condolences to the family. So very sorry for your loss. May her memory be a blessing as her life was to so many.
Very sorry for your loss. What a wonderful life with many achievements. As I life long Bills fan myself, I can attest that may have been her hardest accomplishment ! Go Bills.
Sending my deepest condolences to Sandy and family. As a long-time neighbor and friend, I will miss Miriam and her generous community spirit. Her contributions will live on for all of us.
I think Ed has said so much here. Sandy has been Miriam’s support and love. We’ve lost quite the community member and Seldon neighbor. Our condolences to you Sandy and your family.
Your family is in my thoughts and prayers💕
My love to you all who knew Miriam as mom. I remember her well when we were your neighbors on Windermere Rd. I was only six years old then and still recall my interactions with her.
So sorry for your loss, from a friend of Heller An. From reading about her, Miriam seems like the kind of person others feel honored to have known and shared her life with. My deepest sympathy.
Our heartfelt sorrow for you Sandy and your wonderful family. Her spirit will live on in her children and all who knew and loved her.
Your mother was my mother.
I love my Vassar College friend, Heller An, therefore I loved your mother as much.
Same for your father.
As sad as this time is for you and your family, it brings me great comfort to know that you will ALWAYS and FOREVER honor her name. Her memory. Her greatness as a Mom Extraordinaire.
For as long as you live, you will say Grace at a family holiday dinner and say her name and tell everyone an unabashed anecdote about some incident in her life. Don’t hold back!
I love you, Heller An. And I love that your father soooooo loved your mother.
As always,
Kathleen Monomakhoff Loree ‘79
For
Thom R Loree Md ‘78
John T LoRee ‘16
Peter E Loree (outlier: St Lawrence ‘14)
Buffalo NY