Obituary of Jed Shapiro

The family and friends of JED JOSEPH SHAPIRO are saddened to report his sudden death on Sunday, February 13. Jed was the son of noted labor mediator/arbitrator Irving R. Shapiro (1916-1976) and well known local public relations journalist Lucile Darley Shapiro (1921-2006). Raised in the "Blandings Dream House" at 338 South Manning Blvd in Albany, he was an active member of the B'nai Brith Youth Organization AZA chapter. Jed attended Hofstra University, then relocated to the Washington DC area in 1974, beginning a lifelong career in logistics as a bicycle messenger before moving into the then nascent air freight forwarding sector where his business acumen and mathematical mind made him one of the preeminent figures in his field. Over the years, he rose in the ranks to become CEO of various national and international logistics firms, specializing in providing service to government agencies, notably defense related matters. He was considered a vital link in the chain of materiel and ordnance supporting our troops from Bosnia to Afghanistan. He was proudest of the role that he played in expediting body armor to soldiers in the Iraq conflict, having made numerous ventures at great personal risk to the "Green Zone" of Baghdad in order to properly assess the needs of our fighting men and women. Jed was known to all with whom he worked as a taskmaster and a perfectionist, but a generous and nurturing employer whose presence will be missed by colleagues and employees alike. He was an internationally recognized wine connoisseur, a classic car enthusiast, a patron of the arts in the DC area, and an untiring champion of animal rights. He is survived by his brother, Seth Eben Shapiro and nieces Mollie Jo Shapiro and Tziona Shapiro Rose of Saratoga Springs and cousin Kerry Kurtus of Albany. Burial will be in the Independent Benevolent Society Cemetery on Fuller Road, Sunday, February 20, at 11 a.m. Those wishing to honor his memory may make contributions in lieu of flowers to the Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation (www.lostdogrescue.org) or a charity of one's choice that reflects Jed's lifelong dedication to progressive causes.