 STEPHEN B. SHAPIRO, 78, of Portland, passed away at Maine Medical Center on Dec. 3, 2017, after a brief illness. Steve was born in Glens Falls, New York, in 1939, to William and Bertha (Gould) Shapiro, the youngest of two children. Steve married Peggy Forman and they raised two children in Portland.
Steve graduated from Glens Falls High School, Class of 1956. He graduated in 1960 from Harvard College (where he was a member of Winthrop House) with an A.B. cum laude in chemistry, and the Institute of Paper Chemistry at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis. (M.S. 1964). He worked as a research scientist at S.D. Warren Paper Co./Sappi for more than three decades.
Steve met Peggy, his wife of 54 years, on a blind date in Boston, Mass., where they were both studying. They were married in 1963 in South Orange, N.J. After living two years in Appleton, Wis., they moved to Westbrook, and a few years later settled in Portland. Steve relished traveling and spending time with family. He loved art, music, good food, biking, swimming in the ocean, and camping.
Steve volunteered as a docent at the Portland Museum of Art for more than 15 years, introducing schoolchildren to the world of art and sharing the museum's collection by bringing slide shows to area senior centers.
Steve was a member of Temple Beth El and served on the board. He was a weekly participant at the Temple's early morning minyan on Thursdays. For nearly 20 years, Steve helped community members file their taxes through the free AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program. He donated hundreds of hours helping train volunteers, prepare computers, and provide one-on-one consultations.
Steve donated blood and platelets regularly.
Steve was predeceased by his parents, William and Bertha; and his sister and brother-in-law, Ellen and Jim Saalberg. Steve is survived by his wife, Peggy; and two children and their families: daughter Evelyn (Solomon Baer), of Urbana, Ill.; and son Philip (Michelle), of Waltham, Mass.; and his grandchildren, Gabriel and Henry, of Waltham; and Mario and Hannah, of Urbana. He will be greatly missed by the many family and friends he held close, including his nieces and nephews, cousins, and a circle of very dear friends. The family wants to thank the staff at Planet Fitness, as well as the wonderful and compassionate care he received from all the Maine Medical Center staff.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Dec. 6, at 11:30 a.m., at Temple Beth El, 400 Deering Ave., in Portland. Burial will follow at Temple Beth El Memorial Park. A period of mourning (Shiva) will be observed at 16 Wolcott St., Portland, on Wednesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. Arrangements are by Portland Jewish Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Steve's name to the Temple Beth El general fund (tbemaine.org/donations), or Portland Museum of Art (portlandmuseum.org/give)
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