Washington, D.C. – Samuel Leon Shapiro, a long-time Norfolk resident, died on January 17, 2026, in Washington, D.C. at the age of 86.
He will always be remembered as a loving and beloved husband, father, and grandfather with a remarkable intellect, a gentle soul, and a lifelong passion for travel and learning.
Samuel was born in June 1939 in Demblin, Poland to Mira Yontef and Abraham Gedanken. With his mother, he spent the war in the Demblin-Irena forced-labor Luftwaffe camp. When the camp was liquidated in 1944, he was transferred to the Nazi HASAG munitions camp in Czestochowa, Poland where he was liberated by the Red Army in January 1945. He fled post-war antisemitic violence in Poland with his mother and father, Israel Shapiro, and lived in Displaced Persons camps in occupied Bavaria before immigrating to the United States and settling in Norfolk in January 1951.
He graduated from Maury High School in 1957 where he starred on the school’s “Quiz ‘Em on the Air” quiz bowl team, earning the attention and affection of his future wife, Helen Walker. He went on to study at the University of Virginia as a Dupont Scholar, where he earned his undergraduate and medical degrees, and completed his residency at Thomas Jefferson School of Medicine in Philadelphia. After an internship in neurology at the University of Virgina and service in the Navy Medical Corps, he returned to Norfolk where he practiced as a neurologist for over 40 years. He was a founding partner of the Norfolk Diagnostic Clinic and highly esteemed by colleagues and patients.
Samuel was active in retirement and continued to give generously of his time and expertise, particularly to Eastern Virginia Medical School where he served as clinical faculty and an admissions interviewer. He was also a frequent guest lecturer in medical history at Johns Hopkins Medical School. His work at Chesapeake Care Clinic was a source of satisfaction and pride. Retirement gave him the opportunity to devote himself fully to his interests in medical history and travel along with his wife Helen and family.
Samuel was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Helen Walker Shapiro, and by his parents, Mira and Israel Shapiro and Abraham Gedanken. He is survived by his sons, Stephen Shapiro (Benoit Wohlgroth) and David Shapiro; his daughter in-law, Sandy Shapiro; his grandchildren, Samantha Shapiro and Nathan Shapiro; his brothers, Moses and Solomon; and by many cousins in Canada and Curaçao.
A graveside service was held at Hebrew Cemetery in Norfolk. Live streaming was available through the H.D. Oliver Facebook page. The family requests donations to Chesapeake Care Clinic, HIAS, or any other charity of choice.