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HAROLD N. SHAPIRO

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City College of New York New York University Princeton University

HAROLD SHAPIRO Obituary

SHAPIRO--Harold N., mathematician and polymath, died on December 12 in Teaneck, NJ. He was 91. Dr. Shapiro was Professor Emeritus at New York University's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, where he taught for over 50 years. A distinguished number theorist, he was omnivorously interested in mathematics and its applications. In the early 1960s, he briefly left NYU to found Systems Research Group, a consultancy for industry and government. There, he used mathematical models to solve problems in space rocketry, computer science, oil production, ship scheduling, and bond trading, among many other fields. Born on October 2, 1922 in the Bronx, NY, he was the loving son of Isaiah William and Julia Shapiro, and the devoted brother of Raymond E. Shapiro, a toxicologist. He attended City College and then Princeton University, where he received his Ph.D. at the age of 24 under the direction of Emil Artin. Throughout his teaching career, Dr. Shapiro supervised 41 doctoral dissertations and many master's theses. His care for his students extended beyond the classroom and lasted long after the awarding of their degrees. His publications include more than 60 articles and one book, Introduction to the Theory of Numbers (1983, reprint 2008). In 1979, he received the Townsend Harris Medal for outstanding achievement by an alumnus of City College. An engaging lecturer and storyteller, he was a walking library of anecdotes from the history of mathematics. He also painted, wrote poetry, loved music, collected art, and was quietly philanthropic. Having studied Latin, Russian, and modern Greek, he spoke French, German, and Spanish, which he learned at 85 years old. He is survived by his four children, 10 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and by Ruth Shapiro, his loving wife of 65 years.

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Published by New York Times on Dec. 29, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for HAROLD SHAPIRO

Sponsored by Lorraine S. Schumacher, Daughter.

22 Entries

Justin Smith

December 27, 2024

He is completely unforgettable!

Andrew Winkler

March 20, 2020

Harold was a joy of a professor. He had a degree of intellectual aliveness that is not at all common, even among the elite.

May 23, 2017

Daniel Stork, on behalf of my family, I thank you so much for this post and for sharing your special memory of my father! That comment was "so him." He would have loved that you remembered him with such fondness!

Daniel Stork

May 17, 2017

While surfing the Internet in a nostalgic mood tonight, I was dismayed to learn that Harold Shapiro died over 3 years ago, and I had not known. I found the guest book, whose most recent entry was by my friend and Courant Institute office mate Homer Walker, and felt compelled to add my thoughts, however belated. Professor Shapiro was by far my favorite teacher in graduate school. His classes were giddily engaging, funny, and terrifying mathematical adventures, clearly presented and incisive. As much as I learned from him in class, my most treasured memory of him occurred when we shared an elevator ride in the Institute building on Mercer Street in the spring of 1967. I and my classmates were anxiously awaiting the results of the all-important first-year comprehensive written exams, and Dr. Shapiro knew those results. He looked at me and said, "You know, Stork, you're not as stupid as you look." I considered that high praise from him, and have cherished it for 50 years. Zichron l'vrachah.

Homer Walker

October 4, 2015

Harold Shapiro's teaching style was unique among Courant faculty. My memories of a course with him are still vivid after nearly 50 years. My sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Michael ABRAMOWITZ

July 21, 2015

It is only now, July 2015, in a family discussion concerning old times and old friends that Harold, Ruth and family came up. Thank G-d for google. My father, Sol Abramowitz and Uncle Naftaly, were good friends with him since the days of "cheder" in the late 1920s. They walked together to school so they could defend themselves against the antisemitic bullies. This trio could handle themselves. Would love to communicate with his children, my contemporaries. Sol and Naftaly are long gone but their dream of seeing many children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren living in Israel come to be. Their wives, Ada and Jessica are still with us in Houston.
I can be reached at [email protected]

Warren Shapiro

April 4, 2015

I remember my father every day. He was a huge man, both figuratively and literally. He was never small, even into his 90's. His considerable physical presence, irrepressible intellect along with his booming voice shook many a classroom as well as our house growing up...on a regular basis.

He used to refer to his mathematics professor at Princeton, Emil Artin, as "the great man". It was a rarity for my dad to express unadulterated admiration for anyone. He was, among other things quite a critical observer of people and the world in general. Fiery and outspoken but undeniably brilliant and insightful on a seemingly limitless range of topics. To me, at least, he was a genuine "polymath" (there has been some debate on the use of this word to describe my father in my family, but these debates themselves are part of my father's legacy). Growing up in the shadow of our own "great man" was, to say the least, a complex process and not always easy. But he lent us a feeling that somehow we too were special, having been bestowed, perhaps, a few of those gifts he so prominently displayed. I remember him daily. Frankly, not always with the "unadulterated admiration" he had for his own father and Professor Artin. He was a complex man and it was, (as he used to say), "by definition" a complex process to be his son. But I nonetheless think of him every day, and when I do, in my mind, I call him "the great man". Irreplaceable.

Robert Raphael

January 26, 2014

I met him when he visited Concordia University where his student Dr Anand was my colleague. I spent the afternoon
showing him a bit of Montreal. He had things to say that were fascinating. About Hua, about the oil business, about poverty, and his advice to me about some professional issues still guides me.
May his family be comforted among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

David, Leo, Poppy

Lorraine Schumacher

January 1, 2014

Audrey Harrison

January 1, 2014

Although I only knew Harold Shapiro later in life as the father of my sister-in-law, Lorraine Schumacher, I could not help but feel that I was in the presence of an extraordinarily brilliant human being....who was a down to earth "mensch" and family man as well.
Our condolences to the family.

Gary Forman

December 30, 2013

I was shocked and saddened to learn of Harold's passing; he was truly a great man. He was a mathematical mentor to my father and brother, and for a brief period I was his chess teacher. I loved his math stories and I still remember them in great detail as if I heard them yesterday. His intellect was legendary, extraordinary, but I remember fondly his great kindness, his generosity, his humanity. He enriched my life enormously and I am very grateful.

Ron Forman

December 30, 2013

My entire family was devastated upon hearing of Harold's passing. I have known Harold since I was 8 Years old. My father William Forman was one of Harold's 41 PHD Students but more importantly Harold was my dad's dearest friend. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have known Harold as both a friend and a professor. His humanity far surpassed his accomplishments academically. We think of him often and will never forget him. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have known this truly great individual.

Charlie Epstein

December 30, 2013

I remember Harold very fondly from my years at the Courant as a graduate student, and afterwards. He had a terrifically acerbic wit, and one would usually leave his office laughing uncontrollably, but sometimes nearly in tears. I think of him often.

This photo was taken at my parents 50th anniversary party. My father William Forman was one of Harold's 41 PHD students and dad's dearest friend.

Ron Forman

December 30, 2013

Eric Forman, M.D.

December 30, 2013

Though I hadn't seen him in about 10 years, Harold had such a strong personality that he will always be remembered. I fondly remember spending weekends in the Catskills with him and Ruth and my grandparents. I loved listening to his stories of mathematics, business, art, etc. I learned arcane information from his riddles like the words "jejune" and "jonquil" but somehow remember them 20+years later. My family will always be grateful and indebted to him for the invaluable help he provided my grandfather, William Forman, in obtaining his PhD. He was a great man who will be missed by the whole Forman family.
If anyone has contact information for his dear wife Ruth please email me through this site.

Justin Smith

December 30, 2013

He was a brilliant number theorist and the finest and most enthusiastic teacher of mathematics I ever met. His booming voice and witty anecdotes still echo in my mind. He will be truly missed.

Chuck Newman

December 30, 2013

I and the other Courant Institute faculty have lost a treasured colleague, who will be remembered for a very long time.

Shmuel Weinberger

December 30, 2013

I, like many students, at Courant, owe Harold a great deal. I counted him among my friends and always valued his advice and humor.

Ruth Bers Shapiro

December 30, 2013

Harold was colleague of my father Lipman Bers. I remember Harold and Ruth with great fondness for their warmth and good humor. One summer while strolling in the Catskills, Harold stopped my oldest daughter, then a teenagers and asked if she was related to me. She said absolutely and asked how he knew. He said, you look just like her. We all loved the story: It was typical of Harold's expansive good nature to reach out to someone on the chance that he might make a connection. My deepest sympathy to Ruth and the whole family.

Sylvain Cappell

December 29, 2013

Harold was a brilliant senior Courant Institute mathematical colleague and a truly great and endlessly devoted teacher there and generous counselor to a great many young people.
His wit was always sharp and lightening fast. it enlivened countless conversations.
Another language Harold had studied and treasured was Hebrew. it was an important element of his self-definition that he was a Kohen, a descendent of the Aaronite priesthood.
Harold used to tell me that you're only remembered for good in this world if afterward people have some funny stories to tell about you. All of us who knew and cherished Harold have an inexhaustible supply of such stories of him.
- Prof. Sylvain Cappell

December 29, 2013

I am a fellow congregant from Beth Sholom in Mineola. This brilliant man used to kibbutz with my Grandpa who was a mere Laborer and didn't read or write English. Mr.Shapiro would always comment on my Grandpa's firm handshake. When my family was sitting shiva for my grandpa Mr. Shapiro told me my dad was delighted to live to see me get married. My sincere condolences to Mrs. Shapiro and the family. Amy Dorfman-Schechter.

Lesley Schafer

December 29, 2013

I will always remember my Uncle Harold as a warm,engaging,principled man who told the best stories about the imaginary Tilla Klotz.You will be missed by all whose life you touched

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