James M. Shapiro Service Information

James M. Shapiro, 65, died peacefully May 29, 2020, in his home and surrounded by his family. He was born August 4, 1954, in Abington, the son of Malcolm and Alice Shapiro.

Dad graduated from Abington High School, Class of 1972 where he played both soccer and lacrosse. Following his graduation, he attended Lake Forest College in Evanston, IL where he continued to pursue his passion for both sports. Following an illustrious college career where he enjoyed all that the ‘70s had to offer, Dad began working for his father.

Dad joined his father, Malcolm Shapiro, as a manufacturers’ representative at Shapiro and Boehm at the age of 22 and took the company over when Malcolm passed away. SRS Marketing was established in 1996 when Shapiro and Boehm merged with Robert Riefberg Sales, where Dad served as President alongside his partners Robert Riefberg and Bob Slemmer until his passing. Dad has served on both the ASIA and APAA committees and has more recently served on the Auto Care Association Board of Directors. Recognizing the need for a strong volunteer presence in the industry, Dad held many different roles within the Association.

Dad is survived by his wife Alice Shapiro (née Walsh), his three children and their spouses: Alex Shapiro and Danielle Shapiro (née Rosen), David Shapiro and Rachel Shapiro (née Dromgoole), and Lucy Mullaney (née Shapiro) and Steven Mullaney. He is also survived by his sister Karen Shapiro and his mother Alice Shapiro (née Hecht). No this is not a typo. He married a woman with his mother’s name. Also, they were both born in Brooklyn, in February. No comment.

Dad was not only a terrific businessman, but he was also an incomparable husband and father. Never one to accept adequacy in his professional life, he didn’t accept it in his duties as a parent. When he wasn’t traveling, he could be found behind the chain link fence of a Little League game, coaching soccer, or driving up and down the eastern seaboard to various sporting events. On more than one occasion he would get off a plane and drive two or more hours to catch the second half of one of his children’s activities.

Dad was an ardent Philadelphia sports fan, and an endless fount of knowledge of all the teams - a gift he passed along to all his children. Deeply superstitious, before every game he would say “we’re not going to win this one”; this way he could say “I knew it!” if they lost and be ecstatic if they won. A peculiarity he also passed on to his children which their spouses would agree is highly annoying.
Those who knew him, knew Dad was an avid fan of good food. Luckily for him he married our mom and was able to enjoy restaurant quality food every meal for the length of their 36-year marriage. A few of his favorites included ribs, meatballs, wings, barbecue chicken, roast beef, and thanksgiving turkey. It’s easy to see the theme.

Dad loved to golf and is leaving behind his second home in Lookaway Golf Club, a place he referred to as Shangri-La on more than one occasion. It is a sacred place where he taught his kids how to play golf, enjoyed many good meals on the back patio, and watched his daughter get married. In fact, looking back on our time with Dad, it is hard think of one without the other.

Dad had an uncanny knack for avoiding large scale weather events, including several major snowstorms and at least a couple hurricanes. He also managed to miss every Halloween by conveniently having a conference in Las Vegas that lasted the last week and a half of every October. This of course saved him from the post-Halloween sugar rushes and general madness that our weary mother dealt with. Now we’re not saying that he had a 6th sense, but you can make your own conclusions.

 Due to the ongoing pandemic and general disorder of the world, which true to tradition Dad has wisely avoided, a memorial event will not be held at this time.

In lieu of flowers, the Shapiro family has requested that donations be made to one of the charities that Dad supported:

• Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF) – www.aacfi.org - The AACF, or Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation, was founded in 1959 to assist automotive aftermarket members and their families who, due to catastrophic illness or terrible accident, have exhausted all other available resources in maintaining a reasonable existence;
• Gary Sinise Foundation - www.garysinisefoundation.org - At the Gary Sinise Foundation, we serve our nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need;
• The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) – www.aspca.org – The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® works to save animals from dogfighting, puppy mills, hoarding and other cruelty situations. We provide animals medical care and behavioral rehabilitation and help thousands of animals find loving homes every year. We respond to emergencies when disaster strikes, and fight for stronger laws to protect animals.

Send Flowers And Gifts