On behalf of Heather Munroe-Blum, Principal and Vice-Chancellor
 
 

Dr. Phyllis Shapiro, McGill education professor and wife of Principal-Emeritus Bernard Shapiro, passed away late Saturday (November 20, 2004) at the Jewish General Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer, diagnosed earlier this fall.

On behalf of all of us at McGill, I have extended our deepest, most heartfelt sympathies to Bernard and the family.

We all mourn the loss of this distinguished and inspiring woman who touched so many with her warmth, energy and enthusiasm that she expressed in her teaching, her work with her husband and in all that she did in life.

Phyllis had a unique ability to connect with her students, her colleagues and her community, and to care about them. When McGill gained Bernard as Principal, we also received a tremendous gift in Phyllis – in her deep commitment, passion and pride for McGill. She will be enormously missed.

Phyllis (née Schwartz) Shapiro taught at the McGill Faculty of Education in the Department of Administration and Policy Studies, specializing in elementary school curriculum, particularly reading and language arts such as poetry.

Phyllis was born and raised in Montreal, earning a Diploma in Education at McGill in1954. She taught at the elementary level for the Protestant school board in Montreal, and received an undergraduate degree from Sir George Williams (Concordia) in 1961. She moved to the United States and pursued her masters (1963) and doctorate (1969) in Education at Boston University.

She returned to Canada in 1976 and taught at the University of Toronto for ten years until moving to Montreal with Bernard when he became Principal in 1994.

An active scholar, Phyllis wrote dozens of papers and gave presentations all over North America. She co-wrote the book Every Child a Poet with Alice Crossley.

Phyllis first met Bernard Shapiro when she was a 22-year-old grade-six teacher, and he credits her for introducing him to the field of Education that became his life’s work. They once taught a graduate course together at McGill, Seminar in Curriculum Inquiry.

The flag will be lowered at McGill on Tuesday. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. November 23rd, 2004 at the Shaar Hashomayim Synagogue in Westmount.

Contributions in her memory can be made to the Jewish Community Foundation (735-3541 ex. 3305) or to the charity of your choice.