Celebrating a Life Well Lived

Eulogy by Jon Shapiro (click here for video)
 
First, thank you all for coming and for the remarkable remembrances of our Dad so many of you have shared with us.  They mean so much to our family and have helped us realize that our pain and sorrow should – and actually must - be balanced with recognition of the tremendous good fortune we’ve had to be Dan Shapiro’s sons.

Dad was our role model – I think my brothers and I have been writing that to him on birthday and father’s day cards for decades.  Not only because he was successful and a recognized community leader, but because of what a great and generous father and all-around mensch he was.

Family was Dad’s most important priority. Despite the huge amount of time he dedicated (when we were growing up) to work and philanthropy, he always was there for his Boys – for biking in Central Park, playing touch football in our backyard in Bedford, or tennis at Century. 

He and Mom embraced life’s adventures together in a terrific marriage as the best of friends for 53 years. He was also deeply dedicated to his sister Rena, to his seven grandkids – whom he absolutely adored and showered with love – and to nieces, nephews and far-flung cousins from Cleveland to Israel.

Considering how busy he was, it was good that Dad was also a master of the cat nap! – he could grab zzz’s any time, any place, no matter how loud or uncomfortable the environment.

Dozens of family vacations in interesting and exotic destinations were a way to have special time together and deepen our bonds – especially after Mom & Dad moved to London.

Two years ago I shot a 3-hour video interview with him in Mexico on one of our trips, so that we, and our kids - and their kids - will forever be able to hear his life story in his own words. I encourage you all to do the same with your loved ones.

Our Deer Valley ski trip last month was especially meaningful – having all his kids and grandkids with him, all 14 of us – just two weeks before he passed. I recently had all of our family photos digitized, as well as Mom and Dad’s growing up, and we watched them together in Utah, and that made him so happy and proud.  Though we didn’t know it at the time, it was a perfect curtain call.

Although he had slowed down a bit in recent months, Dad lived life to its fullest until the very end. Last summer, I went to Israel with him and Mom for the 50th Anniversary of the Israel Museum and it was my 50th Birthday too. And just in the last two years, he and Mom travelled to Machu Pichu in Peru, to game parks in South Africa, as well as to Poland, Italy, France, Thailand, Mauritius, and more.   We were already thinking of a destination for our next family vacation.  Mom and Dad are the definition of world travelers!

They also shared a love of entertainment and art, particularly acquiring what’s become a great photography collection.  The night before he left us, Dad was at the theater with Mom, laughing and loving the show they saw.

What I’ll miss most about our Dad is his sweet smile and his warm heart.  We’re so glad that he went out on top, doing all the things he loved, with the people he cherished most.