Lewis George Shapiro, a member of the Lycoming Law Association, died September 22, 1960.

Read the memorial resolutions:

C. P. Lycoming County, 146 September Term, 1960. In the matter of the death of Lewis C. Shapiro, Esquire, a member of the Bar of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE

To the honorable Judges of Said Court:

By Order duly made and entered, the Judges of this Court have appointed the undersigned as a Committee to prepare resolutions upon the death of a member of the Bar of this Court.

WHEREAS, Lewis G. Shapiro, Esquire, departed this life on Thursday, September 22, 1960, after an illness of many years.

NOW, therefore be it resolved:

That the members of this Bar and the people of this community have, in his passing, lost a good and kind friend and an honorable, faithful and conscientious lawyer whose sincere devotion to the Court and to his fellow-lawyers, to the interests of his clients, and to the general welfare, is well known.

Lewis C. Shapiro, Esquire, is a native of this community, born April 21, 1907, the son of Nathan and Adell Shapiro. He attended the public schools in Williamsport, the Williamsport High School and thereafter the Williamsport Dickinson Seminary the forerunner of what is now Lycoming College. In the Fall of 1926 he entered upon his legal education at Dickinson Law School at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1929 as a classmate to the Honorable Charles Scott Williams, President Judge of this court.

Mr. Shapiro was admitted to the Bar of the Several Courts of Lycoming County on the tenth day of October, 1933, almost twenty-seven years ago, at a time when The Honorable George B. Metzger and The Honorable Don M. Larrabee were upon the Bench.  Of those who then constituted the Lycoming County Board of Law Examiners, Elbert A. Porter, Esquire,  Samuel H. Humes, Esquire, who later became a Judge of this Court, Carl W. Herdic, Esquire and Ira F. Smith, Esquire, have since died, while Michael J. Maggio, Esquire the only other member of that Board at that time, is a member if this Resolutions Committee. Theodore Beck, then Prothonotary, administered the oath to Mr. Shapiro. The Motion for his admission was made by his preceptor, Clarence L. Peaslee, Esquire, and for a time he practiced as an associate of Mr. Peaslee in his office in the Williamsport National Bank Building at 331 Pine Street where, at the time, many lawyers had their offices. Thereafter Mr. Shapiro moved into his own offices in the same hallway when it became apparent that Mr. Peaslee, who was ill, would be unable to resume Practice.

Mr. Shapiro enjoyed, for many years, a large and diversified practice specializing, to a degree in divorce and related domestic cases, and, with equal success, criminal cases. His advice, and representation, were eagerly sought by many, and it was a blow to all who were his valued clients when be became ill and was required to undergo treatment and to close his office.  He was always well considered and admired, both for his ability and for his complete honesty and courtesy to the Court and opposing counsel. It is a fact that other lawyers never required Louie. as he was a affectionately known, to put his agreements about what he would do in writing.  His word was enough.

Politically, Mr. Shapiro was a Republican. In 1935 he ran for his party’s nomination for District Attorney, but was defeated by Charles Scott Williams, Esquire, who was elected. For many years Mr. Shapiro was a most active member of the Young Men's Republican Club, serving upon its Board of Directors.  Although he was also a member of other organizations, fraternal and otherwise, his first love was always the Young Men’s Republican Club, where he had a multitude of close friends. He was a member of the Lycoming Law Association, and of the Pennsylvania and American Bar Association.

He was a member of the Congregation of Ohev Sholom Synagogue.

Mr. Shapiro has two sisters, and two brothers who survive him. His sister, Sarah, is a registered pharmacist, and has for many years successfully operated her own pharmacy, after her long-time service with Liggett’s Drug Store. His married sister, Mrs. Rae Peril, resides at the family home at 1057 West Fourth Street. His brother, Lester, has been the manager and mainstay of a successful family retail furniture business in Newberry, and his brother, Zachary, has had a successful career working for a Department of the Commonwealth in Harrisburg. His father and mother are deceased. Louie and his whole family have always had the respect and admiration of this community, and the sympathy of this Bar goes out to those who arc now left behind to mourn his passing. Let them take solace in his good and unselfish life.

Your Committee suggests that this Resolution be spread at length upon the minutes of this Court, and that a copy hereof be sent by the Prothonotary to each member of Mr. Shapiro’s family.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

Harry Alvan Baird, Chairman
Michael I. Maggio
H. Swank Phillips
Don L. Larrabee
Spencer W. Hill