one of the original Birchwood Boys , enjoyed going into NYC and riding in Richies VW van and racing down the avenues against the taxi cabs . One night we observed the " fare " " absorb the impact " of crashing into another car in front of him !! No seat belt ... he flew off the seat... we did not stay around.
As our 55th High School reunion approaches and my excitement to see familiar faces nears, I find myself thinking of Richie Shapiro and his tragic loss of life while only in his mid twenties. Richie and I were best of friends. We were both the middle of three boys and our families were close, particularly as it related to Temple Shalom. We did a lot of "hanging out" together. His favorite candy was a Butterfinger. After graduation, when he went to the University of Wisconsin in Madison, we kept in touch. On two occasions we met in Miami, Fla. for a college winter intercession break. We rented Vespa motor bikes and had some really fun times together. Richie had a real wild streak! As kids, my parents sent us to Camp Sequoia in Rock Hill, New York, which was owned and run by his parents, Claire and "BIG ED" as Richie nicknamed him. Richie straddled a parallel life between his deep connection to the Birchwood Boys and his large network of close summer camp friends. My brother Paul worked as a CIT over a summer. He got to know Richie pretty well. When many of us were traveling cross country or going to Europe on "$5.00 a day", Richie often felt leashed to his obligations to work each summer at the family camp. On a couple of occasions, I went up to visit him and he had to work most of the time. We clocked a lot of mileage driving in his parents T-Bird. After graduating Wisconsin, his path took him to medical school in Mexico at Guadalajara University. I moved to the Harvard Square area in Boston and was roommates with Hilly Moldof and Alan Bresky. Upon completing his first year in medical school, Richie came up to Boston to visit us. Harvard Square was quite a scene back then (still is). Throughout his high school and college/medical school years, he very much wanted to be in a meaningful dating relationship, which he never really got to experience. Very sad. At the end of his second year of medical school, Richie, while driving north towards Boston, intending to repeat another visit, tragedy and fate intervened. My mom called and informed me of the tragic news. By the time I heard, the funeral had already taken place. I don't think any of the Birchwood boys were in attendance to say a final goodbye. Also sad. Richie's relatively short time with us, taught me to cherish the fragility and impermanence of life, because it really is a gift to be experienced fully. I believe his loss has left me more appreciative and mindful of my relationships and connections to others. He is often remembered by the "Birchwood Boys".
I cut out of gym class with him and one time we covinced Paul Leventhal to go with us. At Pauls house we watched Joe Franklins memory lane show on channel 9 . Amazing I thought that Paul went with us that day . Your right Robert , Rich was a fun guy to hang aroud with !
Richie was always ready to have a good time. He was the first of us to get his driver's license and would drive us around in his parents Oldsmobile station wagon. I remember that incident in NYC when the cab hit a car while chasing us. He always had a butterfinger in his desk drawer. And always one to share. We had some great times. I remember the sad day we learned of his passing. Bob and I were together and I could not comprehend we would never see Richie again. He was a smart and effervescent character.
Joe Sabella (Sabella)
one of the original Birchwood Boys , enjoyed going into NYC and riding in Richies VW van and racing down the avenues against the taxi cabs . One night we observed the " fare " " absorb the impact " of crashing into another car in front of him !! No seat belt ... he flew off the seat... we did not stay around.
Robert Amer
As our 55th High School reunion approaches and my excitement to see familiar faces nears, I find myself thinking of Richie Shapiro and his tragic loss of life while only in his mid twenties. Richie and I were best of friends. We were both the middle of three boys and our families were close, particularly as it related to Temple Shalom. We did a lot of "hanging out" together. His favorite candy was a Butterfinger. After graduation, when he went to the University of Wisconsin in Madison, we kept in touch. On two occasions we met in Miami, Fla. for a college winter intercession break. We rented Vespa motor bikes and had some really fun times together. Richie had a real wild streak! As kids, my parents sent us to Camp Sequoia in Rock Hill, New York, which was owned and run by his parents, Claire and "BIG ED" as Richie nicknamed him. Richie straddled a parallel life between his deep connection to the Birchwood Boys and his large network of close summer camp friends. My brother Paul worked as a CIT over a summer. He got to know Richie pretty well. When many of us were traveling cross country or going to Europe on "$5.00 a day", Richie often felt leashed to his obligations to work each summer at the family camp. On a couple of occasions, I went up to visit him and he had to work most of the time. We clocked a lot of mileage driving in his parents T-Bird. After graduating Wisconsin, his path took him to medical school in Mexico at Guadalajara University. I moved to the Harvard Square area in Boston and was roommates with Hilly Moldof and Alan Bresky. Upon completing his first year in medical school, Richie came up to Boston to visit us. Harvard Square was quite a scene back then (still is). Throughout his high school and college/medical school years, he very much wanted to be in a meaningful dating relationship, which he never really got to experience. Very sad. At the end of his second year of medical school, Richie, while driving north towards Boston, intending to repeat another visit, tragedy and fate intervened. My mom called and informed me of the tragic news. By the time I heard, the funeral had already taken place. I don't think any of the Birchwood boys were in attendance to say a final goodbye. Also sad. Richie's relatively short time with us, taught me to cherish the fragility and impermanence of life, because it really is a gift to be experienced fully. I believe his loss has left me more appreciative and mindful of my relationships and connections to others. He is often remembered by the "Birchwood Boys".
Bob Amer.
Lou Ringe
Thank you Bob- he was a great guy and really good friend!
Terence MacDevitt
I cut out of gym class with him and one time we covinced Paul Leventhal to go with us. At Pauls house we watched Joe Franklins memory lane show on channel 9 . Amazing I thought that Paul went with us that day . Your right Robert , Rich was a fun guy to hang aroud with !
Hilliard Moldof
Richie was always ready to have a good time. He was the first of us to get his driver's license and would drive us around in his parents Oldsmobile station wagon. I remember that incident in NYC when the cab hit a car while chasing us. He always had a butterfinger in his desk drawer. And always one to share. We had some great times. I remember the sad day we learned of his passing. Bob and I were together and I could not comprehend we would never see Richie again. He was a smart and effervescent character.