Robert B. Shapiro

SHAPIRO, Robert B. - Died peacefully October 5, 2005 in Mill Valley, at his beloved "Sunrise", surrounded by love. Known to the world as "Bob", few people lead such a varied and full life. Born October 16, 1911 above his father's plumbing store in Brooklyn, New York, Bob moved to Chicago at nine months of age and began his extraordinary journey. As a boy he helped to support his family, first becoming a licensed plumber like his father and graduating to the A & P grocery store. Later a scholarship and a fellowship to the University of Chicago resulted in his BA and JD from the Law School. Studying was not all that Bob did. He found time to become a light heavyweight wrestling champion and a football player on the last of the University of Chicago's teams coached by Amos Alonzo Stagg. Graduating from law school in 1935, when the effects of the Depression were very deep, Bob was one of only a handful of his fellow graduates to find a paying job. The job paid $5 a week. Bob practiced law for five years, specializing in labor relations. He was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States where he argued a case in his army uniform under a special dispensation during WWII. While in the army, he attended Rutgers University and received his degree in mechanical engineering. During WWII, Bob cultivated his skills in work simplification and methods engineering. After the war, retired with rank of Major, he returned to Chicago and created Associated Business Consultants. While leading ABC he consulted with various industries including the manufacturing of envelopes and forms. When Transo Envelope Company was unable to find a general manager to match the caliber of its consultant, Bob agreed to take over the management operations of the company. He expanded the company to multiple plants in multiple countries, which afforded him the opportunity to travel, one of his greatest loves. Having brought Transo to great success, Bob was elected president of the Envelope Manufacturer's Association of America. Traveling was in Bob's soul. He attended a myriad of "Drupa's" (printing conventions) in Dusseldorf, Germany, and found any reason possible to explore some new place. If you traveled with him you were assured he would discover a candy store or a bakery within an hour of his arrival and run into someone he knew. He crewed on a racing sailboat in Australia, did T'ai Chi at the top of the cultural center in Shenyang, China and just because he could, he found a great replica of his mother's famous chocolate coffee cake at a bakery in Tel Aviv, Israel. Always ready to explore new ideas, Bob became involved with the founders of the Human Potential Movement. Fritz Perls, Virginia Satir, Rollo May, Alan Watts, Roberto Assiogioli, the Lama Anagarika Govinda and many more called him friend and relied on him to create the grounding they needed to bring their ideas to a wider audience. He had the amazing ability to think outside the box and see into the heart of any problem. Bob helped the founding of the Gestalt Institute of Chicago, Oasis Growth Center, The Alan Watts Society for Comparative Philosophy, The International Human Learning Resources Network and Innovative Housing. Recipient of many awards, including his recent honor by Saybrook Graduate School with a Doctorate of Humane Letters, Bob was recognized for his ability to not only reach his potential but to help the people he encountered reach theirs. To spend time with Bob Shapiro was to learn his lessons in Taoism, self care, open heartedness, loving-kindness and fiscal prudence. When you met him, you were never the same afterwards. He is survived by his wife, Alison Bonds Shapiro; three daughters, Pat Shenker of Sarasota, FL, Ronny Perin of Deerfield, IL and Karen Green of Phoenix, AZ; two stepsons, Fletcher Bonds of Seattle, WA and Jacob Bonds of Santa Rosa, CA. He leaves seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and four step-grandchildren. Donations may be made to the University of Chicago for the May and Benjamin Shapiro Memorial Loan Fund Account # 51633, University of Chicago, 5801 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, IL 60637 or to Hospice of Marin, 17 East Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Larkspur, CA 94939. RUSSELL & GOOCH FUNERAL CHAPEL (415) 388-1573