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"Sis" Shapiro, preschool educator and a lover of art, music, literature, nature, and travel, passed away in Albuquerque on May 4, 2008, at age 83 of congestive heart failure. Born in 1924 in New York City as Estelle Ruth Shapiro, Sis grew up in an affluent middle class family. She often expressed guilt that she was sheltered from the turbulence of the Great Depression. Perhaps as a result, Sis rebelled against the middle class values of her family and became highly active in the social issues of labor and racial equality that arose during the Roosevelt and post-World War II years. Her social activism included participation in many of the hallmark protests of the 1960's and continued throughout her life. Sis attended Ohio University, and although she did not complete her college education, she was extraordinarily well-read and highly knowledgeable in many fields. However, Sis's great love was children, and she was best known as the founder and first teacher of the Ramapo Community Nursery School in Rockland County, NY (which recently honored Sis at its 50th Anniversary celebration) and the Corrales Preschool in Corrales, NM. After her retirement, Sis served for many years as a docent at the Albuquerque Zoo. Sis is survived by a brother, Gilbert Shapiro, of NYC; her sons and their spouses/partners Rock and Kay Levinson of Denver, Eric Levinson and Donna Whitcomb of Albuquerque, and Jonathan and Candace Levinson of Burke, Virginia; her grandchildren Karl, Lisa, and Amanda Levinson, Abbey Moran, and Nick Starrett; and her great-grandchildren, Winter Rose Levinson, Leo Rose-Levin, Annabelle and Olivia Moran; virtual grandchildren, Kathy and Heather Gooch, and Heather's children, Hailey, Riley, and Joey Dominquez; nieces, Amy and Laura Shapiro; and her cat, Cali, who gave Sis inestimable comfort and companionship as her health and mobility declined. A Memorial Service to celebrate Sis's life will be held on Friday May 16, 2008, 6:30 p.m., at the BioPark's Shark Reef Cafe. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The New Mexico Nature Conservancy, 212 E. Marcy Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501.
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