Obituary of Michael Shapiro, 83

US Army Reserve (Ret.) LTC Michael Charles Shapiro passed away on Saturday, September 22, 2018, at the age of 83. Mr. Shapiro was born in Washington, DC, in 1935, excelling at baseball at Calvin Coolidge High School before attending Penn State to play baseball for the Nittany Lions. He was a member of Phi Epsilon Pi fraternity, where he cultivated lifelong friendships. He loved Central Pennsylvania, and after graduating from PSU in 1957 and serving in the Army Corps of Engineers on active duty, returned to State College to teach and start a family, marrying Janice Krauss in 1959.

He became a well-known figure in the State College, PA area, teaching Health and Physical Education in the State College Area School District for 38 years. For many of those years, he served as the Health and Physical Education Department Coordinator, after earning his Masters Degree in Health Education from Penn State in the early 1960s, and pursuing his Doctorate in the early 70's.

He developed a love for tennis in the early 1960's, and coached the State College High School Boys and Girls Tennis teams to many successful, and often undefeated, seasons. He also coached Westerly Parkway Jr. High School's football and basketball teams for many years, and refereed junior high and high school basketball games. He loved working with young adults, and was a believer in developing young men and women of character and good citizenship. He insisted on giving and receiving firm handshakes, including eye-contact. He often taught multiple generations within the same family, and enjoyed becoming reacquainted with his thousands of students, athletes, and colleagues on his trips around State College, or wherever their paths crossed. He held active leadership positions in many professional societies and organizations, and won state and national awards and recognition for his excellence in coaching.

In addition, he served in the US Army Reserves for 28 years, of which he was very proud. Mr. Shapiro also owned and operated the Campus Blotter Service, which supplied dorm and fraternity students with desk blotters that carried advertising from local merchants.

Mr. Shapiro loved playing competitive tennis, and medaled in the National Senior Games in both singles and mixed doubles for several years before retiring from competition. He also loved to travel, befriend stray cats, and support local animal welfare organizations.

He was also an active member of Congregation Brit Shalom, in State College.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Janice Krauss Shapiro, of State College, loving children and grandchildren Amy Shapiro Bossard of Belmont, NC, and Marc, Cathie, Sam and Anna Shapiro of Potomac Falls, VA., and by his sister, Cynthia Crippen, of Piermont, NY.

A memorial service will be held at Koch Funeral Home in State College, PA, on September 25, 2018 at 1:30 PM. He will be interred at Centre County Memorial Park, with military honors, in a private ceremony. In lieu of flowers or other remembrances, please consider making a contribution to Centre Foundation, Shapiro Family Fund, 1377 Ridgemaster Drive, State College, PA 16803 or Centre County PAWS animal welfare organization, 1401 Trout Road, State College, PA, 16801.

Arrangements are under the care of the Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton Street, State College, PA 16801. Condolences and signing of the guest book may be made at www.kochfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook.