Jay Shapiro

On July 28, 2026 the clock finally ran out for the toughest man I’ve ever met. Jay Shapiro was born on January 27, 1946 in Peabody, Massachusetts to Benjamin and Pauline Shapiro. He was the second of 3 boys the couple had together. Richard was his elder and Bill was his younger brother.

In the 1950s, Jay first asserted his dominance and will by surviving Polio to go on to become one of the best athletes Peabody produced in the1960s. He would later be inducted into both his college and high school Halls of Fame. He was a multi-sport athlete but excelled in football. He earned a full scholarship to the University of Wyoming where he was the starting center for the 1967, undefeated, #4 ranked Cowboys, who were ultimately upset by LSU in the Sugar Bowl. When asked about the game he would insist that they didn’t lose but rather ran out of time. Jay married his high school sweetheart, Janet Harrington, and had 3 boys, Scott, Jay and Mark. They made a home in Tewksbury, Massachusetts.

Jay spent his career in manufacturing where he worked his way up to executive positions that took him all over the world. His work ethic and later his willingness to mentor people would be his legacy to go along with the many patents he developed over the years.

In 1985 Jay and Janet designed their dream home and relocated the family to Cape Cod. Jay was an avid New England sports fan that said after the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 - their first since 1918 - that he “could now die happy because he has seen the Patriots, Celtics, Bruins and Red Sox all win a championship.”

After a heart attack in 2010, his 4th, he finally quit smoking. To fill the void, he of course picked up a new, equally dangerous hobby - motorcycles.

Janet passed in 2016 and Jay subsequently retired to Palm Desert, California to be closer to his grandchildren, Summer Shapiro of San Francisco and Nicko Shapiro of Los Angeles. He also began a new relationship with Gail Swindler who he remained with for the rest of his life. They often went on motorcycle rides with his Harley Owners Group friends all through Southern California.

So Jay’s life can be summed up in many ways like his take on the 1968 Sugar Bowl – he didn’t lose his life, he just ran out of time, living on his own terms until the end.

Jay is survived by his brothers, Bill and Michael, his sons, Scott, Jay and Mark, and his grandchildren Nicko and Summer.