From
The Arizona Jewish Post, courtesy of his widow, Elly Shapiro:
Arthur Shapiro (pictured) died suddenly Dec. 7 in Tucson, AZ. Born in Brooklyn, NY, on Dec. 21, 1938, Dr. Shapiro earned his BA from Rider University, his MA from the College of New Jersey, and his Doctorate from Rutgers University. He lived in Roosevelt, NJ for much of his life, where he served on the Borough Council, the volunteer fire department and most recently as the town historian for this unique community.
A tireless academic, author and advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, Dr. Shapiro was a special educator on the local, county and state levels for more than 40 years. He was Full Professor Emeritus at Kean University and an adjunct faculty member at Rutgers University. For 18 years he held many positions within the New Jersey Department of Education, including supervisor of child study in Burlington County, regional coordinator of special education and pupil personnel services for the southern half of New Jersey, state coordinator of intermediate units and private schools for the handicapped/sheltered workshops (clinics and agencies), coordinator of professional training and development in special education. In addition, he was on full-time faculty at William Paterson University and an adjunct faculty member of Monmouth University, the College of New Jersey, Rowan University, Georgian Court University, Rider University, the New Jersey State Prison at Trenton, and the Youth Reception and Correction Center at Yardville.
He also served as consultant to agencies around the country, such as the New York Board of Regents, the Education departments in four states, the National Organization on Disability and the National Easter Seals Society. Dr. Shapiro also served as expert witness for the New Jersey Department of the Public Advocate’s Division on Developmental Disabilities and the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia.
His book, Everybody Belongs: Changing Negative Attitudes toward Classmates with Disabilities (Routledge Falmer, England, 1999), received Choice’s Outstanding Academic Title Award from the Association of College and Research LIbrarians, and was selection for inclusion in Exceptional Parent Magazine’s library as well a feature of the Network of Educators on the Americas’ Teaching for Change catalogue. Dr. Shapiro was on the editorial board of a number of educational publications. He appeared on dozens of television programs in the New York/New Jersey/ Pennsylvania area as well as in scores of newspapers and magazines.
He was a member of the Society of Southwestern Authors, the Tucson Jewish History Museum, and several other professional organizations.
Dr. Shapiro had developed a Powerpoint presentation about Roosevelt, which he gave in more than 150 venues over the past decade. His hobby was collecting saxophone memorabilia and music.
Plans to release Dr. Shapiro’s new book in early 2010 will go forward, according to his family.
Art, or Hotta as he was known, is survived by his wife, Elly (Spitzer) Shapiro of Tucson, AZ, his daughter Mindy Shapiro, son-in-law Matthew Ashby, and his grandchildren Nathan and Evan Ashby of Acton, MA, and his son, Erik Shapiro, and daughter-in-law, Rochelle Shapiro, and his grandchildren Yitzchak, Shoshana, Danny and Meira Shapiro of New Hempstead NY. He was predeceased by his parents, Harry Shapiro and Eva Cole Shapiro, his sister, Marilyn Weener Schetina, and his brother, Sumner Weener.
From The Arizona Jewish Post, courtesy of his widow, Elly Shapiro: