Erwin SAPIRO

PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. - Erwin Harris Sapiro, 77, of Port St. Lucie, Fla., died Feb. 16, 2010, after a brief illness.
He was born in New Brunswick, N.J., on July 10, 1932, to Jacob and Sadie Sapiro. Mr. Sapiro was director of the band program at Bruton High School for 14 years.
As a loving husband, father, mentor, educator and passionate pursuer of arts, sciences and sports, he touched many lives and made everyone who knew him feel special.
A talented musician, Erwin – known as 'Win' – performed, recorded and toured with the original Eastman School of Music Wind Ensemble as a trumpeter. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from Eastman as a scholarship student and his Master of Music degree under a fellowship grant. Stationed in Poiters, France, from 1955-57, he served as assistant conductor and trumpet soloist with the 279th Army Band.
He was director of music for the East Haven, Conn., public schools for 25 years, where he built an award-winning marching and concert band program. In 1982, Win relocated to Williamsburg, Va., where he was director of bands at Bruton High School. As festival coordinator and site director for the Festivals of Music, he toured to San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Myrtle Beach. He was a judge for the All American Band Festival in Orlando, Fla.
In 1988, Win left his teaching position at Bruton High School to pursue other professional activities. As an artist, he had paintings shown in galleries in Williamsburg and he won prizes in juried shows. He performed as a trumpeter with three regional theaters, as well as the Florida Symphonic Band and the Bob Zimmerman Orchestra. After three years, Win recognized that he missed his students and decided to return to teaching. He returned to Bruton High School to teach an additional six years. In the 14 years he taught at Bruton, the high school bands won 23 trophies in national competitions. He was also a tutor in Scholastic Aptitude Test preparation and helped many students achieve their goal of attending college. In a newspaper interview about his rewarding teaching career, Win stated, 'My underlying effort for 39 years of teaching has always been to get people to be better than they ever thought they could be.' Win stayed in touch with many of his students and was a beloved mentor and friend to them.
Win retired in 1997, and he fulfilled a lifelong dream when he and his wife, Vicky became full-time RVers. The pair traveled across the country and visited their children and grandchildren. Erwin and Vicky settled in Port St. Lucie, where he continued to pursue many lifelong interests – as a singles tennis player, ham radio operator, painter, photographer, fisherman, woodworker and astronomy buff.
He is survived by his wife, Vicky Sapiro of Port St. Lucie; his daughter, Joan Sapiro Beal and her husband, Jeff Beal, and grandson, Henry Beal of Agoura, Calif.; his son, Adam Sapiro of Baltimore, Md.; his stepsons, Gary Ameling and wife, Debra Ameling of San Jose, Calif., and Jeffrey Ameling and wife, Elizabeth Ameling, and grandchildren, Lillian Ameling, Sarah Ameling, and Forrest Ameling of Louisa, Va.; and his twin brother, Maurice Sapiro and wife, Sally Sapiro, and their son, John Sapiro of North Haven, Conn.
Win is preceded in death by his youngest son, Jason Sapiro.
A service was held Thursday, Feb. 17, 2010, at Beth El Memorial Park, Fort Pierce, Fla.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Bruton High School Marching Band at 185 East Rochambeau Drive, Williamsburg, VA 23188. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.