Lynne J. Shapiro

Age 75, of Beachwood, Ohio, formerly of East Lansing, MI, passed away June 20, 2019. She was born June 17, 1944, in Brooklyn, New York.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 24, 2019, at Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 1924 Coolidge Rd., East Lansing. Inurnment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Lansing.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements are by the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel.

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13 Messages to “Lynne J. Shapiro

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Paul Schmieding
June 22, 2019 at 3:59 pm

Thank you for being there for me and Patty in the times that we really needed someone like you that cared. Quite sure many of your students would say the same thing. RIP!!

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Rob coviak
June 22, 2019 at 5:39 pm

I had Ms. Shapiro for English when I was in Jr. High! Great teacher with a big personality!! RIP

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Cecilia Stajos
June 22, 2019 at 7:11 pm

One of my most favorite teachers. She was unique and unapologetic. She did not put up with less than your best and pushed you for it. She was tough, but also a teddy bear. She has a positive impact on my life as a middle schooler when we all need one. Rest In Peace.

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Thomas Green
June 22, 2019 at 8:46 pm

She was one of those teachers I have never forgotten. So many reasons to say, Thank You, Mrs. Shapiro.

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Janet Alder
June 22, 2019 at 10:41 pm

The Alder family grew to know your mother these past few years in Beachwood. Our deepest regrets go out to you. May you find comfort and courage in these saddest of times through the memories you have of your dear mother.

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Kelly Woods
June 23, 2019 at 7:26 am

Wonderful teacher, caring, thoughtful friend with a big personality and sense of humor. Loved her…. may you rest in peace Lynne

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Gloria D. Gonzalez
June 23, 2019 at 9:05 am

As a fellow educator and as a special educator I will always remember Lynne’s willingness to see beyond a student’s limitations and find their strengths and work from that point if view. She had an amazing spirit and I always smiled when in her presence.

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Richard Locke
June 23, 2019 at 12:44 pm

Sorry to hear of Ms. Shapiro’s passing. She was a fantastic teacher at Waverly East, 7th grade English or Literature. I forget the class name but not her. She posed ideas that were a bit new to some of us who led sheltered lives, like people with money could get away with stuff that poor people could not. Some of my friends were in a group I think she called the “hot dogs” and I was proud to be included with them at the end of year where she presented us all with an academic award. I wasn’t sure I deserved it but I certainly appreciated it.

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Jill Green
June 23, 2019 at 7:55 pm

Mrs. Shapiro was the most inspiring, creative teacher I’ve had; I have fond and vivid memories of her and her class. She spoke her mind and encouraged us to do the same. I can still hear her say (as we walked out of class at the end of the hour), “Have a happy… Enjoy!” Waverly was lucky to have her… we were lucky to learn from her.

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Candice Milan, Dan Marazita, Elizabeth Marazita, Rita Altman, Jane Okma, Paul Borst
June 24, 2019 at 1:42 am

Memories of Mrs. Lynne J. Shapiro
Guestbook Notes: Sent to Mrs. Shapiro’s Memorial Service, Congregation Shaary Zedek, 1924, Coolidge Road, East Lansing, Michigan
June 24, 2019, 10:30 a.m.

From her students and friends, June 24, 2019

From a Waverly Middle School Parent:
From Eleanor Marazita, Resident, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (former resident Lansing, Michigan).
Lynne Shapiro was the Accelerated 7th grade English Instructor for three of my seven children, Elizabeth, Candice and Daniel. She taught in the Waverly schools throughout her career and was voted the most outstanding teacher a few times. Each child loved Lynn Shapiro because she encouraged them to grow, to shine and to soar both academically and individually. I would rush to the parent-teacher conferences just to hear about all her projects and how she loved to see her students grow. My husband, Phil and I thought the world of Lynn and thank God that our 3 youngest children got to learn English Arts with her including drama, public speaking, literature, poetry and the love of learning.

From Mrs. Shapiro’s Students:
• Rita Altman, Resident Sarasota, Florida
Mrs. Shapiro was such an impact on my life. She helped form who I am today & instilled such confidence that I am forever grateful for. Unfortunately, not all women or little girls have the opportunity to be mentored by someone like her. She was an inspiration to everyone she came in contact with & made us all better people by just knowing her. RIP Mrs. Shapiro and forever be my angel looking over us all.
Rita Altman
Waverly Class of 1979

• From Paul Borst, Resident, Washington D.C., Mrs. Shapiro’s 7th grade student 1971-1972
Ms. Shapiro was instrumental in my developing critical thinking skills and learning to view life from different perspectives. In our accelerated reading class, I remember that she challenged us to take positions we disagreed with and defend them. It felt awkward in the beginning, but by the end I grew to appreciate the new skills and experiences that she provided for me. I will miss her.
Paul Borst
Waverly Class of 1978

• From Candice Milan (former Canice Marazita), resident White Fish Bay, Wisconsin, Mrs. Shapiro’s 7th grade student 1974-1975.
Mrs. Shapiro was by far the most glamorous adult I had ever seen in my life as I began middle school. She talked to us about dressing each day to reflect her mood and mere clothes became a way to express her individuality. She talked to us like intelligent, interesting humans and our individual self-worth grew leaps and bounds each day. I dressed up as Cyrano de Bergerac, recited poetry, and read all the books by John Steinbeck because she said I would like them. She was funny and made me look forward to each and every day with her. Our class was the first to meet “the Kid” as her time becoming a mother to Jared approached during our year with her. Mrs. Shapiro took maternity leave half of my year, but inspired me for life. “A teacher affects eternity; (s)he can never tell where his influence stops”. The ripples of your life will continue forever, Mrs. Shapiro. I’m so sorry for your families’ loss.
Candice Milan
Waverly Class of 1981
• From Dan Marazita, Resident Winston Salem, North Carolina, Mrs. Shapiro’s 7th grade student, 1976-1977.
Luckily for me, my 6th grade English teacher recommended that I move up from Standard to Honors English with Mrs. Shapiro for 7th grade. I went from a fairly poor reader, writer, and public speaker, to a much more confident person and accomplished student. Mrs. Shapiro had a way of making you feel special and smart. You always felt like she believed in you, and made you feel like you could accomplish great things. Looking back, Mrs. Shapiro was one of my most influential teachers I had in all my years of education, including college and graduate school.

I have a been High School Math teacher and coach myself for over 29 years. Everyday I teach or coach, I try to pass on the inspiration from Mrs. Shapiro, trying to make every one of my students believe they can do great things with hard work and confidence in themselves. Thanks Mrs. Shapiro.

Dan Marazita
Waverly Class of 1984

• From Elizabeth Marazita, Mrs. Shapiro’s 7th Grade student, 1972-1973, Resident, Katy, Texas.
The day I joined Mrs. Shapiro’s 7th grade English Class changed my life forever. I had been a mediocre student, uninterested in reading, acting, performing, or literature. Mrs. Shapiro inspired me to fall in love with the creative, performing and language arts. She invited talented College students to read literature to class. One student read Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart”. Mrs. Shapiro dimmed the lights and the student’s diabolical voice took us to a demented world that still stops my heart in fear. Mrs. Shapiro inspired us with college and future horizons when she entered our personal poems in Poetry Competitions in local Universities. Mrs. Shapiro encouraged us to join speech contests and to write speeches which came from our hearts. I entered a speech contest and I was shaking with fear in front for the Optimist Speech Contest of 50+ adults. Mrs. Shapiro came up and kissed me before I gave my speech. I did not win, but I channel that kiss when I give speeches to this day.
She empowered us to choregraph and sing holiday songs and performances like “The Jingle Bell Rock.” In 7th Grade, I learned about the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps while reading The Diary of Ann Frank. We were silent when Mrs. Shapiro would get emotional sharing that Ann Frank was only 3 years older than we were when her life was taken all too soon. Mrs. Shapiro exposed us to Romeo and Juliet and made learning the culture and language of the Bard fun! I recall well learning about the insulting gesture to bite the thumb at a rival. I think we bit our thumbs at each other the entire year.
Many students performed in the plays and Mrs. Shapiro directed them. How she had the time to inspire us with Shakespeare, Ann Frank, Edgar Allen Poe, Theater, Public Speech, drafting poetry, I do not know. Mrs. Shapiro shared with us once that she was a successful model in New York City. She was such a stunning woman. Mrs. Shapiro shared with us that her father, however, told her- “you have a gift Lynn, you must become a teacher”. I loved her outfits, her flare, her panache, he laughter, her calling us “hot dogs” but what I loved most was that she loved each one of us and wanted us to dig, to question, to understand, to learn, to love. Thank goodness her father asked her to become a teacher, I am forever grateful to him and to Mrs. Shapiro.
Elizabeth Marazita
Waverly Class of 1979

• From Jane Okma (formerly Jane Apol), Resident, New Jersey
First: Late 1970’s debate history. Waverly High School Debate team had an amazing late 70s success story. That is because Mrs. Shapiro was our public speaking teacher in MS.
Second: Personal story. I entered Mrs Spapiro’s class as a very fragile, very vulnerable middle school student. My mother had recently died. My cousin recently named a child after my mother. I wrote an essay about this. It was an AWFUL essay. She realized it was not about the quality of the essay. I am forever grateful.
Jane Okma, Waverly Class of 1979

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Mary Fox (formerly Dunn)
June 24, 2019 at 2:11 pm

Mrs Shapiro made an enormously positive impression on me. I was a student in her 7th grade accelerated reading language arts class. I had never encountered such a vibrant and interesting teacher before! I was a painfully shy 7th grader, but she recognized a spark in me, and encouraged me to express my leadership and creativity. I am forever appreciative of my time in her classroom.

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Pam Ogle
June 25, 2019 at 9:05 am

I was a new teacher at Waverly East teaching 2 hour blocks of Language Arts classes back in 1975. Lynn’s classroom was next door to me. She was a model teacher and inspired me to be creative with lessons for my students. I admired her spirit and love for encouraging students to do their personal best. She not only taught students that were academically gifted…she took in students who were doing poorly and found ways to bring the best out of them. Lynn touched the lives of many students throughout her years of teaching at Waverly. Jared, you blessed the lives of your parents for many years. She loved you and your family.

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Andrew S Bovee
May 17, 2023 at 3:29 am

I’m in tears after just finding this. She was probably my favorite teacher of all times while teaching at Waverly Middle School. She probably taught me more than she even realized. What a gifted mind she had. Just so that everyone knows, she spoke highly of her husband and of her son that was just slightly older than me. She was more to me than just my teacher, she was like a second ( Jewish ) mom to me. Prayers for the family and may you rest in peace my dear sweet friend.

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