Funeral Details

Stephen A. Shapiro

Shiva

Thursday and Saturday, January 14 and 16 at 7PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Please Use The Link Below to Register in Advance for Both Days
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Memorial Contributions

Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute
1121 Lake Cook Road, Suite D
Deerfield, Illinois 60015
https://osrui.org/give
or
Hope Community
611 East Franklin Avenue
Minneapolis, Minneapolis 55404
https://hope-community.org/donate

Memorial Contributions

Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute
1121 Lake Cook Road, Suite D
Deerfield, Illinois 60015
osrui.org/give
or
Hope Community
611 East Franklin Avenue
Minneapolis, Minneapolis 55404
hope-community.org/donate




OBITUARY

Stephen A. "Steve" Shapiro, 59, passed away suddenly Jan. 11th, 2021 at his home in St. Louis Park, MN. Steve was the beloved husband of Rachel (nee Fine) and loving father of Natalie. Cherished son of Hanna and the late Rabbi Mark S. Shapiro, and son-in-law of the late Betty and the late Arkie Fine. Dear brother of Eliot (Ellyn) Shapiro and David Shapiro. Loving brother-in-law of David (Kathleen) Fine, the late Mitch Fine, and Kathy Fine. Devoted uncle of Noah and Rose Shapiro, Ben (Amanda) Fine, Sam (Elizabeth) Fine, Robyn Fine and the late Jason Fine. Best friend and companion to his four-legged “boys” Dylan and Rufus.

Steve was born in Buffalo and raised in north suburban Chicago. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before moving north and adopting the Twin Cities as his home. There he met and married his soulmate, Rachel. Steve had a way with words like no other. He worked in public relations and marketing for years in addition to writing books, newsletters and articles. He also served as a long-time member of the Board of Directors of Hope Community in Minneapolis.

Steve was the epitome of a family man, and was an adoring nephew, cousin, and father figure to many “adopted” kids. A lifelong fan of the White Sox, Steve collected facts, tidbits and trivia about baseball for his entire life, in addition to his extensive collection of baseball cards. His sense of humor was one of his greatest qualities, and he had a special love for Groucho Marx, Monty Python, Mel Brooks, Woody Allen and The Honeymooners, to name a few.

Steve’s friendship will be missed by so many, including his Big Guys, his MELD group, his BJBE community, his OSRUI family, his U of I friends, and countless others. To keep everyone safe, the interment and funeral will be virtual. Interment will be Thursday, Jan. 14th at 10:00am, live streamed by Chicago Jewish Funerals: www.cjfinfo.com. A Zoom funeral will follow at 1:00pm. Please contact Congregation BJBE for login details: bjbe@bjbe.org. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to one of these organizations which meant so much to Steve: Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute, 1121 Lake Cook Road, Suite D, Deerfield, Illinois 60015, osrui.org/give/; or Hope Community, 611 East Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404, hope-community.org/donate. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals – Buffalo Grove Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com


GUEST BOOK

We encourage you to share your personal condolences and stories of Stephen A. Shapiro below and we will share them with the family.
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I was lucky to be CFTY and NoFTY advisor from 1977-1979. During that time, Steve was on the board of CFTY. When I think of him, I smile. He was a bright, sweet, wonderful person and I felt close to him even though I haven't seen him in recent years. The world is a sadder place without him and my heart aches for the Shapiros and his many friends who will miss him so much. My love and prayers to the Shapiro family.

Julie Hartmann Orbach
January 12, 2021
We send you our love and hugs a d prayers for the strength to get through the pain, of which you've had far too much lately.

Toby F. Laping
January 13, 2021
I am deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Steve Shapiro. He was one of the very first friends I ever made. I met him, Rachel, and Natalie when I was a toddler living next door to them in St. Louis Park, and they have been family-friends for years. I will always remember the times we hung out whether it be coming over to hang out or for Hanukkah celebrations.
When I began to write at the age of fourteen, Steve always encouraged me to keep practicing and give me advice on what to do. He praised me for getting a few stories published in my high school literary magazine in the past, and those victories helped me get more work published to this day. I will always remember Steve being a role model who always told me to keep writing to get my work published without anyone or anything getting in my way, and I will now keep his words in my heart.

Bergen Christoffer Eibs
January 14, 2021
I am deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Steve Shapiro. He was one of the very first friends I ever made. I met him, Rachel, and Natalie when I was a toddler living next door to them in St. Louis Park, and they have been family-friends for years. I will always remember the times we hung out whether it be coming over to hang out or for Hanukkah celebrations.
When I began to write at the age of fourteen, Steve always encouraged me to keep practicing and give me advice on what to do. He praised me for getting a few stories published in my high school literary magazine in the past, and those victories helped me get more work published to this day. I will always remember Steve being a role model who always told me to keep writing to get my work published without anyone or anything getting in my way, and I will now keep his words in my heart.

Bergen Christoffer Eibs
January 14, 2021
We are so saddened to hear of Stephen's passing. Stephen had a way with words but it is so hard to find any now that express our sorrow for Stephen's family and all of his loved ones, and how much you are in our thoughts. We hope you find comfort in the memories of all the joys he brought to your world.

Gordon Herz
January 14, 2021
I was very deeply saddened of the news about Steve. He was a great counselor at OSRUI to me. Hannah,David and Elliot and family My deepest condolences to you all. Mitchell Goldman

Mitchell Goldman
January 14, 2021