Claudia Moynihan Shapiro

1928 - 2021

Waterford - Claudia Moynihan Shapiro, 92, of Waterford, died March 11, 2021, at Bride Brook Health and Rehabilitation Center. Claudia was born Nov. 4, 1928, in Bridgton, Maine, the daughter of Hazel Hartford and Claude Moynihan.

She graduated from Bridgton High School and completed courses at Connecticut College. Claudia was employed as an administrative assistant for many years; her last ten at Connecticut College for former President Claire Gaudiani, retiring in 1998. While at Connecticut College, she won first prize in a contest sponsored by the Center for International Studies and the Liberal Arts with her essay, "Democracy is a Discussion." As she often stated, "working at Conn College has been a great highlight in my life. Where else could I have worked and had the opportunity to meet and shake hands with Professors Elie Wiesel and Cornel West among many others?" She was a devout convert to Judaism, yet remained proud of her Irish/English heritage. Claudia was a descendant of Charles Dickens.

Claudia and Lester Shapiro were married Dec. 18, 1960, in Manchester, N.H., by the late Rabbi Samuel Umen of Temple Adath Yeshurun.

She was a longtime member of Temple Emanu-El, serving on its board of trustees, teaching Sunday school, and was a member of Sisterhood. She was a 14-year National/International News Editor for the Jewish Leader under former managing editor Vicky Shulman. Claudia loved children and was a literary tutor at Harbor School. In November 1999, Claudia was presented an award by then Lieutenant Governor M. Jodi Rell for being an outstanding volunteer at the Drop-In Learning Center. She was a spokesperson for Seeds for Peace, a human rights advocate and an outspoken supporter for social justice. Claudia was politically involved in the local and national Democratic party, and she fought as hard as she could to support civil rights and oppose anti-semitism.

She is survived by her husband, Lester Shapiro; and son Michael, daughter-in-law Tracy, and her beloved grandchildren, Ari and Skylar Shapiro. She is also survived by nieces, Hazel and Pat Shaw (daughters of Claudia's sister Hazel Shaw) of Bridgton, Maine; Linda Shapiro-Jones of West Townsend, Mass.; and nephew Attorney Jeffrey Shapiro of Arlington, Va. Other survivors include Claudia's grandniece, Mikayla Jones; and grandnephew, Jakob Jones. She is predeceased by two sisters, Sylvia Moynihan and Hazel Shaw of Bridgton, Maine.

In Claudia's memory, donations may be made to Temple Emanu-El, P.O. Box 288, Waterford, CT 06385. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, March 15, at Jordan Cemetery, 240 Boston Post Road in Waterford. ALL ARE WELCOME.