I know all too well words cannot express the feelings your families must be going through. Needless to say, I am saddened to hear about the death of Lenny. When I would be shooting baskets on the driveway  he would always wave to me when driving up the street. He was a wonderful person. Please accept my condolences.

Much love and deepest sympathy to your families. 

Mark

A beautiful service today prompting many memories.  I knew the Judge when he practiced and, then, regularly before him when he became a judge. We even enjoyed a Red Sox game together after he retired.  I tell a story.   One afternoon, in the big courtroom, with the big screen, he was handling detained individuals at the prison by video hookup.  A face came on the screen, the clerk asked for the name, the response was Aldo Ray.  Judge Shapiro whirled in his chair toward the screen and exclaimed, "Aldo",  the man replied, "Hello Judge Shapiro, it's been a long time."  The Judge said, "It has been a long time, Aldo, how are you doing?"
They then exchanged a series of pleasantries as if they had been friends from childhood.  Judge Shapiro - one of a kind.  Robert Watt, Providence

Lenny was a good friend and former neighbor. Our families grew up together and Carol and I will miss his good nature, stories about anything, and funny quips.  I remember one story where an immigrant was appearing before him in court after having been found to have a gun stowed under the seat of his car during a traffic stop and claiming that the weapon was not his and did not know how it got there. Lenny's comment to him was "don't you just hate when that happens". Lenny was fun to be around and always  in a good mood with a cute story to tell. Carol and I offer our deepest condolences to Judy and his entire family.

I am saddened to hear about the passing of Judge Shapiro. He was the first immigration judge I met in Boston. He was deeply interested in my background and apparently appreciated me.
I have not practiced a lot in front of the Immigration Court, but I had one very important case in front of him. My client was a Tutsi whose parents' dairy farm had been assailed by Hutus. A number of his relatives were killed; he was deeply traumatized and, therefore, somewhat helpless, like a child. He lost all his documents on the bus when he came to see me in Boston and his thoughts were at times relatively confused. We managed to provide good documentation and a very detailed statement about his persecution, and I assume Judge Shapiro was impressed and somehow convinced that the claim was valid. In her cross examination of my client, the government attorney, though, tried to persuade the Court that some inconsistencies in my client's testimony showed that he was not truthful.
Judge Shapiro, however, had a more realistic view and maintained that exactly the fact that not everything what my client said was totally consistent showed that his claim was not staged. It is normal, he declared, that facts become a little vague in the memory of a traumatized person. He thus took the little inconsistencies of my client not as proof that he did not tell the truth, but that he was indeed telling the truth and granted asylum.
The government representative reserved appeal.
After the hearing Judge Shapiro congratulated my client on gaining asylum. When I made the reservation that the government might still appeal the ruling, he reassured us that she would not. And so it was.
This and other occasions on which I met Judge Shapiro left me with the impression that he was a person whom the destiny of human beings did not leave cold and that he had empathy for their plight.
R.I.P. Judge Shapiro

Judge Shapiro was a great and compassionate jurist, and like many colleagues in the Boston immigration legal fraternity, I was privileged to appear before him many times. His wit, wisdom and humor made it fun to represent clients before him. He especially struck me the way he fondly adored his family, especially his dear wife, Judith, saying of her, admiringly, that he almost always obeyed God and his wife, and not “necessarily in that order.” We will truly miss Judge Shapiro. The Lord grant the family the fortitude and strength as you grief your loss.

Lenny was a very special man. Our love and thoughts are with Judy and all her Family at this very sad time.
May his memory be a blessing.
Chris and Chris Highmore

Lenny was a treasured friend and colleague; a genuinely good human and wonderful story-teller.  His memory will be a blessing for those of us lucky to have known him.

I always enjoyed being around cousin Lenny and hearing him share stories with my parents about the family. He was as good a man as there was. RIP Cousin Lenny.

I had the good fortune to appear before Judge Shapiro many times. He was a kind and thoughtful judge and a lovely human being. He will be missed.

Lenny touched so many lives and I am fortunate to be one of the many. His kindness and compassion are only something I can aspire to emulate.  May he be reunited with those that have gone before him and re-connect with his golfing partners to laugh again and have a  "Beverage at the turn!" 

JJ Donovan

OBITUARY

Judge Leonard Irwin Shapiro

January 10, 1936 – December 5, 2024

Stanetsky Memorial Chapels

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