Lester Shapiro

1/3/1928 - 9/24/2025

Waterford - Lester Shapiro, 97, of Waterford, passed away peacefully at Bride Brook Health and Rehabilitation Center Sept. 24, 2025. He was born Jan. 3, 1928, in Boston, Mass., the son of Lillian (Klein) Shapiro and Joseph Shapiro. Lester graduated from Gardiner High School and went on to earn a master's degree in education from the University of Maine. He was a social studies teacher at Hollis High School and later a principal of Hebron Elementary School where he taught history and politics.

He married the love of his life, Claudia Moynihan, Dec. 18, 1960, at Temple Adath Yeshurum in Manchester, N.H. In 1964, they moved to Connecticut where he taught at Montville High School. In later years, he became a senior property agent for the State of Connecticut's Wethersfield office, retiring in 1992.

Lester enlisted in the United States Army where he fought in the Korean War and was stationed in Osaka, Japan. He was a decorated soldier who received the Good Conduct Medal, the Army Occupation Medal, the Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal.

Lester was a lifelong fitness enthusiast who enjoyed weightlifting, yoga classes, and long bicycle rides well into his nineties. He was an outstanding long-distance swimmer who frequently enjoyed swimming at Ocean Beach. On a sunny day, you could always find Lester at Ocean Beach basking in the sun. Lester enjoyed birdwatching and exploring New England with various birding groups. He was a member of Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center. He loved day trips to New York City, world traveling, and especially enjoyed traveling with his wife Claudia to Israel and Ireland. He was an active member of both the local and national Democratic Party and was a 20-year volunteer for former Representative Sam Gejdenson's campaign. Lester was a volunteer for the New London Soup Kitchen and a tutor at Harbor School under the Jewish Coalition for Literacy. In 2003, he received the Retiree of the Month Award from the State of Connecticut as an outstanding volunteer. He was a long-standing member of Temple Emmanuel in Waterford.

He is survived by his son, Michael, of Waterford; beloved grandchildren, Ari and Skylar Shapiro; Tracy Smith of Waterford, and Boston, Mass.; his sister-in-law, Doretta Shapiro of Gardiner, Maine; nieces, Linda Shapiro of Townsend, Mass., Patricia Ann Shaw of Portland, Maine, and Hazel Shaw of Bridgton, Maine; and nephew Jeff Shapiro of Arlington, Va.

A Graveside Service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 29, in Jordan Cemetery, Waterford. All are welcome. Donations in his memory may be made to the New London Community Meal Center, 12 Montauk Avenue, New London, Connecticut. Condolences may be shared on Lester's memorial page at www.neilanfuneralhome.com.