Arnold Shapiro

Shapiro Arnold Shapiro, Ph.D., retired English professor at The Ohio State University, died unexpectedly on October 25, 2013, shortly after his 79th birthday. Arnie was born in Paterson, N.J. on October 7, 1934 to the late Irving and Anna (Scher) Shapiro. He is a graduate of Rutgers University, Johns Hopkins University, and Indiana University, from which he received his Ph.D. in English literature. Arnie then served in the U.S. Army, where he put his English skills to good use writing speeches for the commanding general at Ft. Jackson and editing the Fort newspaper. It was at IU that Arnie met the love of his life, Frances Ebstein, whom he married on March 18, 1962. He taught Victorian literature, the Bible as literature, and American Jewish literature to thousands of students at OSU from 1962 to 1991, where he served as Vice Chair of the English Department for several years. Arnie had a strong commitment to civil rights, and was proud of his "Green Ribbon Commission" days standing between the students and the National Guard in 1970. He taught as a Fulbright professor at the University of Helsinki, Finland, where he introduced his children to travel in a three month tour of what was then "Europe on Five Dollars a Day." In retirement, Arnie and Fran continued to enjoy great friendships with their OSU colleagues. In addition to Charlotte Bronte and his wife Fran, Arnie's greatest passions were books of all kinds, nature, world travel, opera, chocolate, and his six grandchildren. All would agree that Arnie was smart, funny, kind, generous, and a great story-teller. His children and grandchildren will greatly miss being able to "ask Grandpa" almost anything. He made friends easily and was loved by everyone. Arnie is preceded in death by his beloved sister Betty Tooch and brother-in-law Isadore Tooch, his dear niece Deborah DeJesus, and his wonderful great nephew Nathan Tooch. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Frances Shapiro; his children, Eve Cervantez (husband, Tom) of San Francisco and Daniel Shapiro (wife, Thea) of Kapoho, Hawaii; his adoring grandchildren, Joshua, Raphael, Benjamin, and Levi Cervantez, and Lilah and Ella Shapiro; his nephew, David Tooch (wife, Rochelle) and great-nephew, Dylan; and his great-nieces, Rebecca and Julie DeJesus (father, Carlos). He will also be greatly missed by his extended family and his colleagues in the English Department. A Memorial Service will be held this Saturday, November 2, at 3 p.m. at the OSU Faculty Club, 181 Oval Drive South. Get pass from Faculty Club for complimentary parking. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arnold and Frances Shapiro International Scholarship Fund, #309620, OSU Development, 1480 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43221; the Mid-Ohio Food Bank; or a worthy cause of your choice. On line guestbook at www.cookandsonpallay.com