Elizabeth Shapiro

ELIZABETH ALICE FEENEY STILLWELL SHAPIRO Elizabeth Alice Feeney was born on May 25, 1947 at St. Vincent's Hospital in Los Angeles, California. She was the first daughter of William and Dorothy Feeney. Liz has two younger sisters, Colleen and Anna. Growing up, she was an honors student in high school, a member of the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation. She held various student body offices and played basketball, softball and volleyball. Liz attended Notre Dame College in Cleveland, Ohio. It was in Cleveland, where she met John Stillwell whom she married in June 1966. John and Liz lived in Endicott and Syracuse, New York where Anna Stillwell was born in July 1968. They later moved to Durham, North Carolina where Dan Stillwell was born in October 1971. During that time, she took many classes relating to her interests, including child rearing, sewing, psychology, business, and accounting. She moved back to Los Angeles, in 1974 with her husband and children. Tom Stillwell was born in November 1975. In 1977, Liz became founder and president of the Neighborhood School Planning Corporation, which established a non-profit private school in Chatsworth. She successfully organized volunteers who literally built a school for 450 students from the ground up. She oversaw all areas of operation, including legal, site curriculum, fund rai sing and taught Journalism and English. She was President of the Board of Directors for nine years, and the school is still in operation. During the summers, she ran The Ranch Club Day Camp at the site of the school. On January 1, 1979, Liz married Al Shapiro and gained two new daughters, Vicki and Sandi Shapiro. In 1979, Elizabeth began helping Al with his new printing brokerage business, A&L Graphico. As the business grew, she devoted increased time to it. She applied her areas of expertise and was r esponsible for personnel and finances. When L.A. Filmco was established in 1986, her duties became more corporate in nature. In 1999 the two companies merged and now operate as LAgraphico. The company offers full graphic communication services. In 2003, the Company moved to its new location in Burbank and formed a new Company, Midnight Oil Creative. Through Al and Liz's hard work, leadership and family values, they now employ almost 200 people, many of whom have been with the Company for many years. Li z was a tireless volunteer who donated countless hours - and dollars - to local philanthropic efforts. A member of the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Burbank, she served as Treasurer of the organization since 1997. Another program that Liz was involved with was RBI, Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities. This combined two of Liz's primary passions, helping others and baseball. Her dedication and sponsorships to the softball program in particular has inspired RBI to name the Liz Shapiro Easter Softball Tournament in her honor. Liz's primary passion was her Family and Friends. For Liz, this included just about everyone she met. Over the years the family has welcomed countless new members. If you asked Liz how many children she had, she probably couldn't even give you an answer as she loved them all as her own. Brandon Gabriel, Raheem Kyle, Summer Reeves, Suzanne Massar, and countless others are all considered part of the family and that is just to name a few. Her home was open to everyone an d everyone called her "Mom". Her hobbies included baseball (particularly the Dodgers), needlepoint, trivia, cooking and the stock market. Her greatest hobby was her family and friends and she loved nothing more than spending time with her grandchildren. Liz battled cancer for many years but never lost her spirit. Most people that met her would never even have known she was sick. After undergoing a stem-cell replacement in 1988, Liz lived an additional six years and got to meet 5 (+) grandchildren. She witnessed the weddings of all her children and truly lived an amazing life. She passed away far too soon on August 25, 2004 at the age of 57. If you had to sum up Liz's life in a single word, it would be "Love". She is survived by her husband of 25 years, Al Shapiro; and her children, Anna Lasher, Vicki Shapiro, Sandi and Dennis Broad, Dan and Kim Stillwell, Tom and Julie Stillwell, Brandon and Cristina Gabriel and Summer Reeves. The joy of her life was her five grandchildren: Luke and Robin Lashe r, Alex Hernandez, Spencer Broad, and Mathew Stillwell. Additionally, she is survived by countless others that call her "Mom" or "Grandma". Services will be held at Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills on Monday, August 30, 2004, 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please make a donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Burbank in her honor.