Interview with Howard Shapiro – ca. 2001

Mr. Howard Shapiro was born in 1925 in Brooklyn, New York. As the only son of two Jewish-Lithuanian immigrants, Mr. Shapiro quickly learned the harsh realities of prejudice he would face in society. In this interview, Mr. Shapiro discusses his experiences of growing up in Brooklyn. At the age of 18, Mr. Shapiro wanted to join the Marines but his father pleaded with him to wait until he was drafted. In 1942, he was drafted into the United States Army and fought World War II with the 91st Infantry Division in Italy. By 1952, Mr. Shapiro held a Master’s degree in Education, was married and a new father. From 1964-75, he pursued his doctorate degree while serving as an assistant principal at a local high school before attaining the role of principle at the Arturo Toscanini School in Brooklyn. After ten years, he retired in 1985. Unable to give up his love of children and leaning, Mr. Shapiro returned to work at two parochial schools in Brooklyn. In 1987, he moved to Tarmac, Florida and has served as the principal at Fort Lauderdale Preparatory School—he refuses to retire as the children represent the grandchildren he never had.