Martin Shapiro

Marty Shapiro, 84, died peacefully in his Goleta home on Feb. 22, 2024. A music professor and connoisseur of fine arts and culture, Marty lived a full and gratifying life and was loved by so many friends, family, students and colleagues for his kindness, generosity and humor. Like the Monty Python song says, Marty always looked on the bright side of life.

New York, New York! Martin Shapiro was born in 1939 to Dorothy (Goodman) and Ben Shapiro of The Bronx, New York – the third of six children who have remained close all of their lives. Marty’s love of music began early, at the side of his mother, a pianist and singer who performed on Jewish radio. The family spent summers in Lake Carmel, NY – across the street from a violin maker, as luck would have it, whose encouragement of Marty’s violin playing was, well, instrumental.

Marty’s intelligence was obvious from an early age – he skipped a grade, attended the prestigious Bronx High School of Science, and majored in engineering at CCNY. That is, until he made the life-changing decision to switch to music.

Go West, Young Man By the time he graduated, he had become a skilled guitarist and was eager to continue his music studies. Attracted by the Bay Area student activism of the early 60s, he set his sights on UC Berkeley – and when he learned that Cal’s music department needed a lute player, he stepped up to meet that need.

Marty and his lute caught the attention of young music major Marian Auerbach. The two bonded as humanist Jews and idealists, supporting the Free Speech Movement, Anti-War, and Civil Rights movements.

When they finished their degrees, Marty set out for Vienna’s Music Academy and Marian followed. They spent a year studying and hitch-hiking throughout Europe. On a brief trip to Holland, bad weather revealed Marty’s sunny outlook. When Marian lamented, “We have three days in Amsterdam and it’s raining the whole time!” he responded, “Marian, how many people would give ANYTHING to spend three days walking in the rain in Amsterdam?!” That cheered her up instantly. While visiting aunts and uncles and cousins in Israel, they got married, before returning to California to start a family.

Nice Work if You Can Get It In the late 60s, UCSB began offering a PhD in Musicology. Marty brought Marian and baby Joel to Santa Barbara, and they fell in love with the area.

College teaching was a perfect channel for his extensive knowledge, creativity and wit. Who else would, on the first day of “Intro to Music Listening,” herald his own arrival by playing Richard Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra (aka the theme of 2001: a Space Odyssey)?

Marty continued his activism in Santa Barbara, getting arrested (to pregnant Marian’s dismay!) for purposely violating curfew following the burning of the Bank of America building to protest the Vietnam War and police brutality.

Home on the Range (or Toto, I don’t think we’re in the Bronx anymore) At the age of 30, Dr. Shapiro moved his young family (now with baby Lanya) to the small town of Hays, Kansas, and began his career as a Professor of Music. He taught many music history and music appreciation courses, including a course he developed called The History of Rock Music.  He also led the symphony’s viola section and taught classical guitar and folk guitar.  Students loved his enthusiasm, sense of humor, and kindness.  His success teaching and his viola and guitar playing were highly valued, and Fort Hays State University rapidly advanced him to full, tenured professor.

Being a dad was very meaningful to Marty. Every year, he led exotic family adventures to places such as Estes Park, the Ozarks, Lion Country Safari, Canada, Mexico, and eventually Europe. He drove long road trips to Lake Carmel and New Jersey to see his parents, siblings and cousins. The family spent extended time in Berkeley and San Luis Obispo, on sabbatical and a one-year position respectively.  Wherever they went, Marty sought out museums, exposing his kids to culture. While bemoaned at the time, this trait lives as an enduring legacy in his grown children.

Maybe the only thing that made him happier than a good museum was a good concert… or a classic movie! His interest in films led to his producing the long-running Classic Film Series at FHSU and led to a gig introducing films on KOOD public television.  He also loved writing program notes for symphony concerts and serving on the board of High Plains Public Radio.

It’s a Wonderful Life After a 31-year teaching career, Marty realized a long-time dream of retiring to Goleta and playing chamber music. He loved playing viola in the SBCC orchestra and writing concert program notes. Later in retirement, although nerve compression robbed him of his hand dexterity and the ability to play guitar and viola, Marty remained remarkably upbeat – finding pleasure in concerts, operas, ushering at area venues, and watching classic films. He enjoyed the Schmooze Room, senior exercise classes, daily walks in the neighborhood with Marian and most of all, being a grandpa.

At the age of 83, Marty suffered a major frontal lobe stroke followed by a traumatic brain injury, ultimately leading to advanced dementia. His love of connecting with people persisted to the end – warmly greeting visitors and caregivers alike with a kind word and warm touch.

He is missed by his wife Marian, children Joel and Lanya Shapiro (Vito Di Bona), grandsons Joshua and Ari, and his beloved sibs, Sandy, Harold, Ron, & Irene and many cousins.

A Celebration of Marty’s Life will be held Saturday, June 29, from 2-4pm at Live Oak Unitarian 820 N. Fairview, Goleta.   Zoom link for folks to participate:  https://zoom.us/j/991200709  RSVP if you can come in person marianshapiro@gmail.com