Elaine Gunther Shapiro was born in Brooklyn, New York. She attended Brooklyn College and completed a Master’s degree and an advanced post-Master’s degree. She taught in the New York City school system for many years and specialized in teaching gifted children. Elaine was a dedicated educator and her most famous pupil was the actor Omar Epps.
Married to Dr. Victor Shapiro for 64 years, they travelled throughout Europe and the West Indies. They both attended a summer institute at Cambridge University.
Elaine was very close to her mother, Betty Gunther. She was a loving mother to her son, Mark, and a good friend to Fay, her daughter-in-law. She adored her granddaughter, Cara, and was very proud of her. During her long illness, Elaine was cared for by Diana Arthurs, who became her close friend.
The best description of Elaine as a person was expressed in the words of John Milton, the English poet, when he wrote “Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye. In Every gesture dignity and love”.
There will be private services with interment at Forest Park the Woodlands Cemetery.