Student, Uncle Both Will Graduate

When Jacob M. Shapiro '93 steps up to receive his degree tomorrow, he, like many of his classmates, will share his moment of achievement with several members of his family.

But, unlike most of his fellow graduates, one member of Jacob Shapiro's entourage will be accompanying him to the Dunster House podium.

Jake's uncle, former Medical School Associate Clinical Professor of Psychistry Leon N. Shapiro '45-'93, will receive his diploma 52 years after he matriculated to Harvard University in 1941.

Chemistry concentrator Leon Shapiro had already completed his pre-med requirements by 1944 when "a truck came and took us off to medical school," he says.

During World War II, students were siphoned off by local medical schools to be trained because physicians were scarce, says Shapiro.

Shapiro, who attended Boston University Medical School, says he always intended to return to Harvard to fulfill his degree requirements, but never had the time until he retired from his Medical School faculty position last year.

But instead of continuing his chemistry studies, Shapiro enrolled in nine English literature courses, five first semester and four second semester. "There's no way I would venture into a chem class today," he asserts.

Shapiro's "second" education served him well: "I learned to read and write this year," he says. "I am much less terrified of writing than I was before this school year."

Shapiro enjoyed his English courses so much that he plans to pursue a graduate degree in English literature at Florida Atlantic University when he retires to Fort Lauderdale next year.

"There is actually a strong connection between my field of psychoanalysis and literary theory," Shapiro says. He is considering pursuing a career in academia or writing upon completion of his degree.

His experiences this year have given Shapiro a chance to form a new perspective on life at Harvard. "This time I paid more attention in class, and I wasn't wasting time chasing girls," he says.

Shapiro claims he never worked as hard in his life as he did this year. "I literally was reading and writing from the time I got up in the morning to the time I went to bed at night," he says.

"I felt myself growing new synapses in my brain every day," he adds.

Hopefully, the enrichment was worth the $16,454 Shapiro spent on this year's tuition, despite his unsuccessful attempt to finish his education at what his final school year, 1944-45, would have cost--less than $1,000.

The former Kirkland House resident, who is now affiliated with Dudley House as a commuter student from Chestnut Hill, did return to find one vestige of his former academic career waiting for him: academic probation.

"Apparently he had missed a final or something when he left," says Jacob Shapiro, "and when he came back this year he found out that he was still on probation."

Overcoming his obstacles was beneficial for Shapiro the elder, however. "It was definitely worth it to do this," he says.

"I loved it, and my classmates were wonderful, very supportive. The biggest problem was that they are a lot smarter now than they used to be," Shapiro says.

Despite his self-deprecation, Leon Shapiro will join this new generation of students, including his nephew, as they take their degrees tomorrow.

"I think it's great, really funny," says Jacob Shapiro of graduating with his uncle.

"It will be really exciting for my grandmother who gets to see both her son and her grandson graduate from Harvard together," he says.

Leon Shapiro even requested to receive his degree from his nephew's house "so that my 90-year-old mother doesn't have to move around too much," he says.

"It's a real party for my her. I tell her it's really her story," Shapiro says.

And Leon's mother, Ruth Shapiro, says she's looking forward to tomorrow's Commencement.

"Well, you cannot imagine how happy I am. It's a wonderful thing to live long enough to see that," she says. "And I really hope that they both do great things in the future so that Harvard will be proud of them.

Shapiro enjoyed his English courses so much that he plans to pursue a graduate degree in English literature at Florida Atlantic University when he retires to Fort Lauderdale next year.

"There is actually a strong connection between my field of psychoanalysis and literary theory," Shapiro says. He is considering pursuing a career in academia or writing upon completion of his degree.

His experiences this year have given Shapiro a chance to form a new perspective on life at Harvard. "This time I paid more attention in class, and I wasn't wasting time chasing girls," he says.

Shapiro claims he never worked as hard in his life as he did this year. "I literally was reading and writing from the time I got up in the morning to the time I went to bed at night," he says.

"I felt myself growing new synapses in my brain every day," he adds.

Hopefully, the enrichment was worth the $16,454 Shapiro spent on this year's tuition, despite his unsuccessful attempt to finish his education at what his final school year, 1944-45, would have cost--less than $1,000.

The former Kirkland House resident, who is now affiliated with Dudley House as a commuter student from Chestnut Hill, did return to find one vestige of his former academic career waiting for him: academic probation.

"Apparently he had missed a final or something when he left," says Jacob Shapiro, "and when he came back this year he found out that he was still on probation."

Overcoming his obstacles was beneficial for Shapiro the elder, however. "It was definitely worth it to do this," he says.

"I loved it, and my classmates were wonderful, very supportive. The biggest problem was that they are a lot smarter now than they used to be," Shapiro says.

Despite his self-deprecation, Leon Shapiro will join this new generation of students, including his nephew, as they take their degrees tomorrow.

"I think it's great, really funny," says Jacob Shapiro of graduating with his uncle.

"It will be really exciting for my grandmother who gets to see both her son and her grandson graduate from Harvard together," he says.

Leon Shapiro even requested to receive his degree from his nephew's house "so that my 90-year-old mother doesn't have to move around too much," he says.

"It's a real party for my her. I tell her it's really her story," Shapiro says.

And Leon's mother, Ruth Shapiro, says she's looking forward to tomorrow's Commencement.

"Well, you cannot imagine how happy I am. It's a wonderful thing to live long enough to see that," she says. "And I really hope that they both do great things in the future so that Harvard will be proud of them.