Giant Eagle exec's wife a positive force
Karen Louise Shapira felt the world's pain so deeply, she dedicated her entire life to living out one of the highest values in the Jewish religion -- "tzedakah," or charity, her family said.
"She instilled in us the value of constantly trying to make the world a better place. Life, she said, was about making small positive differences so that when you leave here, the world is better than how you found it," said her daughter, Laura Shapira Karet.
Mrs. Shapira, past chairwoman of the United Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh and the wife of Giant Eagle Chief Executive David Shapira, died of breast cancer on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2005, at her Fox Chapel home. She was 60.
Born Karen Adler on Nov. 30, 1944, in Toledo, Ohio, Mrs. Shapira spent most of her younger years in Tampa, Fla. She studied sociology at Oberlin College, in Ohio, where she met the man who would become her husband of 40 years.
The Shapiras went on to attend Stanford University in California and moved to Pittsburgh in 1969, when David Shapira decided to join the family business, Karet said.
Mrs. Shapira is said to be one of the most respected and effective leaders of the Jewish community locally and nationally.
The 1966 Stanford University graduate most recently served as the executive secretary for the New York City-based United Jewish Communities, which represents 155 Jewish federations nationwide.
Before that, Mrs. Shapira was the first appointed chairwoman for the United Jewish Communities-Israel and Overseas Pillar.
Howard Rieger, president of the United Jewish Communities, said Mrs. Shapira made volunteerism a lifelong pursuit.
"She represents the merging of Jewish values and ethics and the American value of volunteerism that obligate us as individuals to make this world a better place," said Rieger, also a past president of the United Jewish Federation in Pittsburgh.
Rieger said Mrs. Shapira has made a "tremendous difference" in helping to guide the overseas programs of United Jewish communities. In her national role at the United Jewish Communities, Mrs. Shapira was a liaison, managing relations between American Jews and Israelis, Rieger explained.
"She is a person who is totally unassuming. She wasn't in this work for what she could get out of it, but only for what she could give," Rieger said. "And she gave so much of her time and substance."
From 1999 to 2001, Mrs. Shapira served as the chairwoman of the United Jewish Federation in Pittsburgh, only the second woman to hold the position.
She held numerous positions with the federation since her involvement began in 1984.
Mrs. Shapira frequently was recognized for her work.
In 2002, she received the federation's Emanuel Spector Award, the highest award for exemplary service to the community in a single year or over the course of many years.
The federation also gave her the Sonia and Aaron Levinson Community Relations Award, which recognizes the efforts of Jewish men and women who pursue the Jewish ideals of social justice and concern for humankind.
In 2001, Mrs. Shapira was appointed to serve on the Pennsylvania Commission for Woman by then-Gov. Tom Ridge.
She also served as a board member numerous local organizations, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Shady Side Academy and the United Way of Allegheny County.
Karet said few people knew Mrs. Shapira was an excellent cook and avid photographer who also loved to do needlepoint, make quilts and build doll houses.
Mrs. Shapira was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago but never let it stop her community work, Karet said.
"She just added it to her 'to do' list," Karet said, with a laugh. "She left us an incredible legacy in terms of community involvement, but the most important way to honor our mother is to be as good at parenting as she was for us."
Mrs. Shapira is survived by her husband, David Shapira, of Fox Chapel; two daughters, Laura Shapira Karet and her husband, Tom, of Fox Chapel, and Deborah Shapira and her husband, Barry Stern, of New York City; a son, Jeremy Shapira, of New York City; a brother, Robert Adler of Washington, D.C., and three grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today at Congregation Beth Shalom, 5915 Beacon Street, Squirrel Hill, where services will be at 12:30 p.m. Burial will be in B'nai Israel Cemetery, Penn Hills.
Arrangements are by the Ralph Schugar Inc. Funeral Chapel, Shadyside.
Memorial contributions may be made to the David and Karen Shapira Philanthropic Fund of the United Jewish Federation Foundation, 234 McKee Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Donations can also be made online at www.ujfpittsburgh.org and clicking on "Give the Gift of Tzedakah."
