Andy Shapiro: In Memoriam

Andy Shapiro touched a lot of lives in his own, all too short, life. Tim Malloy remembers his friend and mentor. 

Vermont's tight knit music community lost an integral and beloved comrade on August 16 when Andy Shapiro died after a courageous battle with brain cancer. His gentle presence and heartfelt encouragement to both spectator and fellow musician will be sadly missed.

I had the honor of knowing Andy as a wonderful singer and songwriter, a brilliant keyboard player, a beautiful human being, and most meaningful to me, a passionate teacher. I was fortunate enough to attend Johnson State College when Andy first established the music department at Johnson. Despite its youth, Andy's knowledge and professionalism gave the new department credibility as well as purpose and meaning. Andy eventually saw enough potential in me to allow me to play in the Jazz Ensemble, an honor which I still look back upon with pride. As my professor, Andy not only taught me the fundamentals of jazz improvisation but he also instilled in me the importance of music's discipline and the importance of being a professional. His approach to teaching music was simple: diligence, practice and mastery was rewarded with well deserved praise. Conversely, little or no effort received little or no praise--in a word, Andy was fair. I feel that I was very lucky to gain Andy's unequivocal support, but I was also smart enough to practice! 

I credit Andy with teaching me how to truly be a musician by his example and I will never be able to thank him enough. Andy's instruction has produced many talented and capable musicians, but his very nature as a person has shaped articulate, dynamic and intelligent people and for that we all must thank him.

More recently, you may have seen Andy playing out as one of the "Disciples" with Tammy Fletcher or with various other local musicians. Always the consummate musician, he would engage the audience with his gentle, good natured demeanor and graciously converse with anyone and discuss anything between sets or after a show. In 1995, he released a solo CD called Dig Deep. Filled with skillfully composed songs with honest and commendable themes, the CD informs as well as instructs the listener to reflect what is most important in life: love, children and faith. Most importantly it celebrates life and Andy's life was certainly exceptional and his passing lamentable.

I am sure I speak for many when I say I feel very lucky to have known Andy and I will miss him.

If one would like to keep his memory alive, you may do so by sending a contribution to Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, RR #3, Box 6694, Barre, VT 05641, or to The Andrew M. Shapiro Music Scholarship Fund, c/o Johnson State College, Johnson, VT, 05656. His CD Dig Deep is currently available at Pure Pop and a posthumous release will be available soon.