Obituary - Dr. Robert Shapiro

Dr. Robert Shapiro of Hauppauge (Feb 23, 1938- Aug 20, 2020)

Dr. Robert Shapiro (February 23, 1938 - August 20, 2020)Dr. Robert Shapiro was born on February 23, 1938 to Margaret & Nathan Shapiro. During his youth in Brooklyn, he attended Erasmus High School while helping  his  father in the dry-cleaning business.  He was involved in choir, attended Hebrew High School, was responsible with helping his parents as well as taking care of his siblings, Richard & Frances. 

Robert attended Davis & Elkins College in West Virginia and Medical School in Amsterdam, Holland.  As a youth, Robert wanted to become a Rabbi but became a doctor instead. He loved children and thus became a Pediatrician.  

When Robert’s father was a patient in Maimonides Hospital, Robert came to visit where his father introduced him to Rachelle. Rachelle was the nurse in charge of taking care of Robert’s father. They dated for three weeks after which, he proposed and three months later, they were married on September 17, 1967. They would have celebrated their marriage of 53 years next month.

After marriage, they initially moved to Amsterdam, where he attended medical school. Upon completion, they moved back to Brooklyn, NY where Robert finished his medical residency at Maimonides and Brookdale Hospitals. In 1975, the family moved to their permanent home in Hauppauge NY, where he started his private practice in Smithtown, NY, that lasted for more than 40 years.  They became active members of Temple Beth Chai of Hauppauge and also sang in the Huntington Jewish Center choir for several years for the High Holidays.

Robert was a wonderful and easy-going man, who was very patient, understanding and took care of a lot of neighbor’s children. He became the Chief Medical Physician for all Hauppauge schools.  He always made time for his patients and only recently retired seven years ago to spend time with Rachelle and his family.

He was an avid sport fan, specifically a diehard Yankee and Giants fan.  While he was a Dodgers fan in his early years, he became a NY Yankee fan primarily because of Joe DiMaggio when the Dodgers eventually left New York. He loved spending time with his children and granddaughter Natalee, watching games together.  He also enjoyed spending time with all of his nieces and nephews as well as all their children at so many different types of events  He loved doing crossword puzzles, playing Sudoku on his phone, playing all different type of card games, Backgammon, Rummikub and Trivial Pursuit.

Dr. and Mrs. Shapiro had a mutual love of animals and even raised a guide dog where he even rescued a dog from St. Maarten back in 2007.  A very sociable person, he loved old movies, tv shows, Big Band music, doo-wop, music from 30‘s – 50’s and opera. He loved to travel and took some extravagant trips.  For example, Israel and Egypt, Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons,  Hawaii and making wonderful family memories.

When Robert’s father died, Robert became the patriarch of the family not just for his own family, but for his extended family as well.  A spiritual man, he enjoyed praying with his friends at the Chabad in the Caribbean as well as with his temple members at Temple Beth Chai in Hauppauge. 

Predeceased by his parents and brother Richard, Dr. Robert Shapiro is survived by Rachelle (his wife of 53 years), children Marcus, David, & Joy, his   granddaughter Natalee, and his sister Dr. Frances Shapiro-Skrobe. Buried at New Montefiore Cemetery, he was loved and will be missed by many family, friends, colleagues, and his animals. A celebration of his life/memorial service will be held in the future, after the COVID Crisis is over.  

Donations in Dr. Robert Shapiro’s memory can be made to Temple Beth Chai of Hauppauge (870 Town Line Road, Hauppauge, 11788) or to the Dr. Robert Shapiro Memorial Fund at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital at HTTP://giftfunds.stjude.org/DrRobertShapiroMemorialFund or ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105