August 28, 2021 at age 83. To sum up the life of Bruce “Murph” Shapiro, a life-long resident of Rochester, is an impossible task. A successful athlete, coach, referee, administrator, avid golfer, and most important loving husband and father.
From the Franklin High School class of 1957, Shapiro was an All-Greater Rochester basketball player, star football, and baseball. Following a stellar basketball career, he went on to play basketball at the University of Miami and played in the 1960 NCAA tournament and the 1961 NIT tournament.
After Miami, Murph returned to Rochester to teach at Eastridge, and there he began his high school coaching career as an assistant to Al Massino. At Eastridge, he met the love of his life, Annette D’amato, to whom he has been married for 57 years.
Murph took on his first Head Coach Position at Monroe HS in 1964. Then in 1969, George Monaghan hired him at Monroe Community College, where he spent over forty years. Murph had a 16-year career as the men’s basketball coach and led The Tribunes to win 329 games while becoming a top Division I Basketball referee. While at MCC, he started the National Youth Sports Program “NYSP” camp, which ran for many years and provided economically disadvantaged youth an opportunity to attend a sports camp and learn life skills on a college campus.
In 1991, he became Athletic Director of MCC, and under his leadership, The Tribunes won 99 regional and 13 national championships. In addition, MCC placed in the top two among all junior colleges in overall athletic success under his reign. But, most important, Murph will be remembered at MCC for helping, inspiring, and mentoring many young athletes and coaches and always getting the best out of people.
Simultaneously, Murph became a top Division I Basketball Official; he worked many games at Syracuse and other Big East schools, Atlantic 10, MAAC, and several NIT and NCAA tournaments.
He received several prestigious awards throughout his life, including the Section Five Basketball Hall of Fame, The Jewish Hall of Fame, Monroe Community College Hall of Fame, Frontier Field Walk of Fame, and NJCAA Athletic Director of the Year. In addition, he received the Key to the City of Rochester.
With all of Murph’s accomplishments, he was most proud of his family. Annette is a Member of the Nazareth College Hall of Fame for her success as Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach and Sr. Athletics Administrator for over 20 years.
All of the kids followed Murph’s path in one way or another. All four Shapiro children played sports at Brighton and their respective colleges.
Kelly is a coach and trainer in Atlanta. Bethann, has coached 31 years as a collegiate coach and is currently the Head Basketball Coach at Binghamton University. Casey is a middle school teacher and coach at Brighton Schools. Corey is a Vice President for Development at Columbia University.
Bruce “Murph” Shapiro, born October 17, 1937, Rochester, NY, is survived by his wife, Annette, his four children, Kelly, Bethann (Jim Ord), Casey (Sarah Axelrod), and Corey ( Stephen Aronstam); and his 4 grandchildren; Taylor, Charlotte, Carley, and Parker. His brother Sanford (Miriam) and sister Sharon. He was predeceased by his brother Warren and grandchildren Hannah and Jake.
The family will receive friends on TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021 from 11 AM-12 PM at Locust Hill Country Club (2000 Jefferson Rd.). A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 12 Noon, with the family continuing to receive friends until 3 PM. For those who cannot attend, the service will be streamed by CLICKING HERE AT 12 NOON.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the
Memory Care Program at the University of Rochester, 919 Westfall Road Bldg. C, Ste. 210, Rochester, NY 14618 [LINK]
or
UR Medicine Home Hospice Care, 2180 Empire Blvd., Webster, NY 14450 [LINK]
or
Sisters of St. Joseph’s, 150 French Rd, Rochester, NY 14618[LINK]
The family would also like to thank all the incredible aids that have helped him fight to the bitter end for so many years.
