Obituary of Dorothy Shapiro
Liberty, NY
Dorothy Shapiro, nee Slavin, 88, died suddenly of natural causes on Sunday, March 21, 2021.
Born in New York City on January 26, 1933, Mrs. Shapiro attended James Madison High School in New York City but spent much of her youth traveling between the City and Spring Glen, New York where her parents, Molly and Irving Slavin, had established Slavin‘s Bungalow Colony and where she developed a lifelong love for the Catskill Mountains region.
In 1953 she married Samuel Schlussel, an electrical engineering graduate of Purdue University and moved to Ellenville, New York where Mr. Schlussel worked for a young antenna and radio company, Channel Master, Inc. Together, they had three children, Lynn, Susan, and Steven. Mr. Schlussel died in April 1968.
As a young widow, Mrs. Shapiro set about raising her three children and ensuring that they would become independent and self-sufficient young adults. Lynn, is a senior executive at Sterling National Bank, Susan a retired orthodontist and Steve an entrepreneur and principal in the waste management and environmental industry.
In 1977, after her youngest son Steven had gone off to college, Mrs. Shapiro married Irving Shapiro, a founder of Sullivan’s Department Store in Liberty, New York and moved to Liberty where she lived for over 40 years. Mr. Shapiro died in January 2001.
Mrs. Shapiro had many lifelong interests and passions, which she pursued in unique and pioneering ways. After her first husband passed away she hosted a radio call-in talk show, Conversation with Dorothy, on WELV in Ellenville, a popular show that ran during the 1970’s.
Later, together with well-known sportscaster and media personality, Haywood Hale Broun, and Michael Gold, she produced a video instructional on how to create a video recording of family members life’s experiences and history. She interviewed well over 200 individuals for this project and appeared on the Martha Stewart Live show to encourage and instruct families in how to create a family video history.
A lifelong environmentalist, Mrs. Shapiro, together with Lucy Smassanow, wrote a children’s environmental book entitled Grandma Goes Green, which has sold and distributed thousands of copies over the years.
An accomplished writer, she wrote a play, Memo From Mom, which was staged at the Sullivan County Community College in 1998 to two sold out performances. Memo From Mom is registered with The Writers Guild.
Mrs. Shapiro was active in many causes, including a long affiliation with the Anti-Defamation League, service on various Boards of Directors, was a founding member of the Ellenville Environmental Conservation Commission and past President of B’nai B’rith in Ellenville. Most recently, she had been active in helping to develop interest in creating a Catskill Mountains Museum.
She is survived by her daughter Lynn Bagliebter (William) of Scarsdale, New York, her daughter Susan Braun (Ervin) of Greenwich , Connecticut, her son Steven Schlussel (Karen) of Delray Beach, Florida, eight grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren and sisters Betty Deutsch and Harriet Goldsmith.
A graveside service for immediate family and interment will be held at Congregation Ezrath Israel Cemetery in Wawarsing, New York.
Contributions can be made to Hazon.org, an environmental not-for-profit, whose mission would have been important to her.”
Funeral arrangements are honorably entrusted to the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home - Ellenville; 845-647-7747 or www.josephngarlickfuneralhome.com.
