Melvin Shapiro

Mel Shapiro, prominent businessman, dedicated and much loved family man, and cherished friend to many in Las Vegas, passed away peacefully on Monday Aug. 26, 2013.  Mel Shapiro was born on April 26, 1930 in New York City. Growing up in Brighton Beach, in Brooklyn, Mel spent much of his youth on the beach during the summers and later in the Catskills, perfecting his stand-up comedy. In 1947, at 17 years old, Mel won the coveted Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts Award, propelling him to tour the country's comedy clubs. Mel then enlisted into the Army and became a part of the famous USO shows, doing TV and live shows for the troops during the Korean War. After the war, Mel and his brother, Phillip Shapiro,  decided to move west to build a business for their new families. After much searching they settled on buying then a small single dry cleaners that was for sale in Las Vegas, called Al Phillips The Cleaner. In 1964, Mel and Phil moved their families to Las Vegas and started building their wonderful life. Over the next 36 years Mel and Phil developed the company Al Phillips The Cleaner into a dry cleaning legend, creating the first "car hop drive-thru" that then became the busiest cleaners in the world, servicing 75% of the Las Vegas community, with numerous locations throughout the city. Mel became a local celebrity for his TV commercials and the catch phrase "How do we do it all?" The commercials featured him and Phil (often with their pants off) and various Las Vegas celebrities. Mel was passionate about golf and a longtime member of the Las Vegas Country Club. He loved traveling, good food, adored his family and was lucky to have found the love of his life, his wife Florence. Mel was faced with the challenges of Parkinson's later in life, yet faced each day with strength, courage and humor. He lived by the saying, "it's a great life if you have the courage to live it". And for 83 years he did just that and has left the world a much better place. He is survived by his beloved wife, Florence and his three children, David Shapiro, Barbara Owens, Daniel Shapiro; his daughter-in-law,  Lisa Holt; his dearest sister,  Florence “Flo Biz” Sokoloff; his grandchildren, Molly and Oliver Owens; his brother and sister-in–law, Patrick and Tricia Leibovici; his many nieces and nephews,  Janis and Ernie Salarno, Steve and Holly Yudelson, Susan Christenson, Lorrie, Robert and April Shapiro;  and his great-nieces and great-nephews, Randy, Ben, Jennifer, Sabrina, Alexis, David, Jonathan, Tessa, Katie, Michael, Michelle, and Sean. He is predeceased by his mother and father, Abraham and Ethel Shapiro and his two brothers, Milton and Phillip Shapiro.  Please keep his memory alive by giving a donation to the Cleveland Clinic in Las Vegas made payable to: “Keep Memory Alive” and note, ”in memory of Mel Shapiro.” Funeral Services will be held at 1:30pm on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at the King David Memorial Chapel. 2697 E. Eldorado Lane, Las Vegas, NV. Burial will follow at the Palm Valley View Cemetery. King David Memorial Chapel coordinated the arrangements.