ISAAC SHAPIRO

SHAPIRO--Isaac. Isaac Shapiro, lawyer who launched Skadden's international practices, dies at 94. Born in Tokyo in 1931, Isaac Shapiro was the fourth son of Lydia and Constantine Shapiro, both classical musicians who were among those who introduced European classical music to Japan. Raised in Yokohama, Isaac attended The Yokohama International School and St Joseph's College, a British school. On August 30, 1945, the day after the United States Pacific fleet sailed into Tokyo Bay, 14-year-old Isaac took the train alone to watch the U.S. troops come ashore. As he stood by the water's edge, a U.S. Army Captain appeared on the embankment and tapped him on the shoulder asking if he spoke Japanese. This proved to be a fateful moment in his life. He became an interpreter first for the Army, then for Marine Air Group 31, whose commander, Colonel John Calvin "Toby" Munn became Isaac's patron and mentor. On July 12, 1946, Colonel Munn brought Isaac, now "Ike", to Hawaii to live with him at the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor. Isaac graduated from Punahou School in 1946. After serving in the U.S. Army in Korea from 1950 to 1952, he received his B.A. from Columbia University in 1952. He earned his law degree at Columbia Law School (Class of '56), where he met Jacqueline Miriam Weiss ('55). They were married on September 16, 1956. They sailed to Paris on the SS Normandie for a year-long honeymoon while Isaac studied at the Sorbonne's Institute of Comparative Law as a Fullbright Scholar. Mr. Shapiro was made a partner at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy in 1966. In 1977, he opened the first American law office in Japan. In 1986 he joined Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and launched the firm's international practice. He remained with Skadden until his retirement in 2001. Mr. Shapiro was president of the Japan Society from 1970 to 1977. He was a close friend of the sculptor, Isamu Noguchi, and was the founding president and trustee of The Noguchi Museum. In 2006, Mr. Shapiro was decorated with the Order of the Rising Sun by the Emperor of Japan for his service in promoting U.S. - Japanese cultural relations. Isaac is survived by Jacqueline Weiss Shapiro, his wife of 68 years, three children, Tobias Shapiro, Alexandra, and Natasha, and four grandchildren, Matthew Bach, Emily Bach, Andrew Bach and Malana Brown. The funeral will be held on Monday, July 7, 2025 at 11am at Temple Emanu-El, 5th Avenue at 65 Street. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made to the Metropolitan Opera.