[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 5, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E764]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING EVERETT H. SHAPIRO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 5, 2010

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise with sadness today to honor 
Everett H. Shapiro, who passed away April 24, 2010, at the age of 82. A 
beloved leader in Santa Rosa, CA, Mr. Shapiro was as well known for his 
sense of humor as for his community support and his active law 
practice. He was the embodiment of one of his favorite expressions, a 
``quality human being.''
  I.had the honor of entering remarks in the Congressional Record for 
Everett Shapiro eight years ago on the occasion of a tribute to his 
role as Trustee Emeritus of Social Advocates for Youth, SAY, an agency 
that serves children and their families. But the list of local, and 
some national, organizations which enjoyed his support is lengthy, 
including The Boy Scouts of America, Sonoma County Junior Achievement, 
B'nai Brith, Special Olympics, Red Cross, Kid's Street Theatre, Santa 
Rosa Human Rights Commission, Santa Rosa Parks and Recreation 
Commission, Canine Companions, Rotary Club, the Gray Foundation, the 
Schulz Museum, Congregation Beth Ami, the Brady Gun Control Commission, 
and the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC.
  He received many awards over the years, but as a fan of Don Quixote, 
Snoopy, and the Marx brothers, Mr. Shapiro's focus was on doing good 
deeds with a sense of humor that was as strong as his sense of caring. 
To many of us who received his phone calls, he will always be known as 
``God'' or ``Robert Redford,'' but generations of kids know he is 
really ``The Tootsie Roll Man.'' Over the past 60 years, he gave out 
more than 300,000 to children all over the community.
  Everett Shapiro founded Shapiro, Galvin, Shapiro & Moran, one of 
Santa Rosa's leading law firms, where he worked on a broad range of 
legal issues. He served in numerous professional organizations such as 
California Trial Lawyers Association, Sonoma County Bar Association, 
and American Arbitration Association. He also earned honors for his 
legal work, such as a ``Careers of Distinction'' award from the Sonoma 
County Bar Association. He retired from the firm in the 1990s and was 
pleased that his son Tad remained a partner.
  The son of Russian Jewish emigrants, Everett was proud to have lived 
his entire life in Santa Rosa. He dismissed as a technicality the fact 
that he was born in Stockton, CA, where his mother happened to be 
visiting when she gave birth. Everett and his wife Phyllis, whom he met 
at UC Berkeley, raised their two sons, Tad and David, in the Santa Rosa 
community. After graduating from UC Berkeley and serving two years in 
the army, he joined the family wool buying business.
  He learned to value the diverse agriculture of Sonoma County and 
appreciate the ranching lifestyle, but when Tad began kindergarten, Mr. 
Shapiro, with Phyllis' encouragement, began law school. He graduated 
just before his fortieth birthday. Years later he was able to sponsor 
both of his sons for membership in the Supreme Court Bar Association, a 
high point of his legal career.
  Everett Shapiro always valued spending time with his family and broad 
circle of friends. He is survived by Phyllis, his wife of 57 years; his 
sons Tad and David and their wives Debbie and Barbara; his brother 
Marvin and his wife Darryl; and five grandchildren.
  Madam Speaker, the community of Santa Rosa will miss Everett 
Shapiro's leadership, compassion, and warmth. We will take inspiration 
from the example he set and comfort from knowing that he felt God had 
been very good to him, and, in his words, ``I like to think I've been 
fair with Him or Her.''

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