Sanford C. Shapiro
Private First Class Sanford C. Shapiro, Serial: 32365264, 84th Chemical Battalion, Motorized, U.S. Army. Awards: Purple Heart. Buried at Beverly National Cemetery, Beverly NJ, Plot F 1766B. Portrait from the Camden High School Purple & Gold Yearbook, January 1928.
Private First Class Sanford C. Shapiro was born in New York on August 5, 1911, to Morris and Babette Shapiro. Morris Shapiro had come to America in 1890. The Shapiro family moved to Camden NJ when Sanford was a young boy. In the 1920s and 1930s Morris Shapiro owned and operated a cigar store at 1023 Broadway in Camden NJ, and owned the property where the family lived. The family later moved to 1118 Elm Avenue in West Collingswood NJ.
After graduating from Camden High School in 1928, Sanford Shapiro took a pre-medical course at the University of Pennsylvania for two years before transferring to Temple University, from which he received a B.S. degree in education in 1933. He taught journalism and adult education as part of a Works Progress Administration program in Camden for two years, and worked as a substitute teacher in Camden for three years before obtaining employment as a social investigator for the Camden County Welfare Board, Division of Old Age Assistance, on February 1, 1940. Unmarried, he made his home with his mother at the Elm Avenue address.
Sanford Shapiro was inducted into the United States Army in October of 1942 and was assigned to the 84th Chemical Battalion, Motorized. After training at Fort Rucker AL he shipped out of Boston with his unit on April 29, 1943, and arrived in North Africa on May 11, 1943. His unit took part in the invasion of Italy on September 9, 1943. Private Shapiro died of wounds received in action near Naples on October 22, 1943. He was 32 years old.
Sanford Shapiro was the first Camden County employee lost in the war, and the flag atop the County courthouse was lowered to half-mast when news of his death was received. After the war, his body was returned to the United States and he was buried at Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly NJ on November 18, 1948. He was predeceased by his father, Morris Shapiro, and survived by his mother, Mrs. Babette Shapiro, and a sister, Mrs. Beatrice Wollman, of 4427 Terrace Avenue in Pennsauken NJ.
Beverly National Cemetery
Memorial marker for Private First Class Sanford C. Shapiro at Beverly National Cemetery, Beverly NJ, Plot F 1766B.
Pennsauken Veteran Leads in Job Exam
Camden Courier-Post —
Trenton, July 24.—John G. Maxwell, a war veteran, of 2922 Bethel avenue, Pennsauken, was top man in the promotion examination for the position of property supervisor in the Camden County Welfare Board, it was announced by the State Civil Service Commission.
The examination was open to male social investigators in the County Welfare Board who had served as such in a permanent capacity for at least 12 months before the examination was held on April 14. The new job pays $1920 annually.
Others who qualified, in order of passing, are: Fred L. Strong, 133 North Thirty-second street, Camden; Charles M. Ackley, 11 East Ormond avenue, Oaklyn; Sidney S. Simon, 201 South Sixth street, Camden; Enoch E. Hardwick, veteran, 71 Jackson road, Berlin; Harry G. Robinson, 605 Tatem avenue, Collingswood; Charles J. Wermuth, veteran, 39 Cooper avenue, Erlton, and Sanford C. Shapiro, 1117 Elm avenue, West Collingswood.
Killed in Action in Italy
Camden Courier-Post —
A telegram from the War Department that Sanford C. Shapiro, 32, was killed in action in Italy was received by his mother, Mrs. Babette Shapiro, 4427 Terrace avenue, Pennsauken township. The death of Shapiro was the first of Camden county employees who are in the armed forces, and the flag atop the court house was lowered to half mast.
Shapiro was a social investigator of the Camden County Welfare Board, division of Old Age Assistance. He began that employment in February, 1940, and was granted a leave of absence on Nov. 1, 1942, to enter the service.
His father at one time kept a cigar store at 1023 Broadway and later Shapiro lived at 1118 Elm avenue, West Collingswood, where he was registered when he was inducted Oct. 16, 1942. He was unmarried and made his home with his mother. He also is survived by a sister, Mrs. Milton Wollman, of the Pennsauken address.
Camden High Graduate
Shapiro was a graduate of Camden High school in 1928. He took a pre-medical course at the University of Pennsylvania from 1928 to 1930, then transferred to the Teachers’ College, Temple University, from which he graduated in 1933 with a BS degree. He taught journalism and adult education for two years on a WPA program in Camden and also worked as a substitute teacher in Camden for three years.
Hero's Mother Will Get Medal
Camden Courier-Post —
Posthumous award of the Purple Heart has been made by the War department to Sanford C. Shapiro, first Camden County employee killed in the war.
The award was announced in a letter received today by his mother, Mrs. Babette Shapiro, of 4427 Terrace avenue, Pennsauken, from Secretary of War Stimson.
Shapiro, former employee of the Old Age Assistance Bureau as a social investigator, was killed in action in Italy last October. Report of his death had been published. He was a graduate of Temple University and entered service in October 1942.
4427 Terrace Avenue, Pennsauken NJ
4427 Terrace Avenue, Pennsauken NJ — home of Sanford Shapiro’s mother, Mrs. Babette Shapiro, and his sister, Mrs. Beatrice Wollman.
84th Chemical Battalion — Honor Roll of Dead
Honor Roll of Dead, 84th Chemical Battalion, Motorized. Sanford C. Shapiro is listed as the seventh entry.
Camden High School Purple & Gold Yearbook — January 1928
Sanford Shapiro’s page in the Camden High School Purple & Gold Yearbook, January 1928. Address: 1023 Broadway; Junior School No. 1; College Preparatory Course.