How the Shapiro Family Helps Pets: Canine Companions

By Seth Stutman

They might be empty nesters, but one could argue that the Shapiro family has never been busier – especially at Christmastime – when the three kids, five grandchildren, and eight dogs descend into Longmeadow!

Nancy and Glenn Shapiro moved to three corners of the United States (Boston, Seattle, Fort Lauderdale) and in Chicago before settling back in Longmeadow. Glenn was born and raised in town and knew that Longmeadow was an ideal place to raise a family. Glenn and Nancy were college sweethearts who met at Lake George, NY.

“We met and got married during college. We were both in Lake George NY during the summer while still in college. Nancy was working at a gift shop connected to the House of Frankenstein Wax Museum, earning money for school,” said Glenn. “I had made a last-minute decision after finals to join a friend and camp out in Lake George for the summer. I took a job as the Frankenstein (dressed in full suit and mask) in front of the wax museum, luring people in.” They actually met for the first time while Glenn was in full costume and Nancy thought he was a different worker there.

After their academic careers were over (Nancy attended SUNY Potsdam in NY, and Glenn attended Bryant College in RI) they both began their careers. Nancy worked in banking but left that career to focus on the kids. Glenn worked for thirty-five years in insurance and retired in 2022 after a five-year stint as the president of Allstate Insurance Company.

The Shapiro’s have three grown children who all graduated from LHS – Ryan, Jessica, and Matthew are all married and Glenn and Nancy now also have five grandchildren ranging from age 14 down to 1.

“Our family is close-knit and stays closely connected, with all 13 of us getting together often,” said Nancy.

This year the Shapiro’s purchased a home in Ticonderoga NY, on Lake George – which has brought their journey full circle. The home had been in Nancy’s family for almost a century.

“We love working on the old, 130-year-old home together. And it seems fitting that 37 years after we met on the south end of Lake George, we are now spending time on the north end of the same lake,” said Glenn.

While their hobbies are all enjoyable, their primary passion is their nonprofit, KodiakCare, named for their dog Kodiak, a Bernese Mountain Dog who had many health issues but a happy life.

“We were able to afford the many treatments Kodiak needed at various times, but we know that is not the case for everyone,” said Nancy. “KodiakCare was founded to help people who lack the financial means to save their dogs when they need lifesaving care that seems out of their reach. To date, we have prevented more than 800 dogs from being euthanized over a lack of funds.”

The Shapiro home is shared by three rescue dogs: Xena, 11, Yeti, 4, and Zeus, 3.

While they haven’t stopped working at their nonprofit, or being active parents and grandparents, retirement has allowed the Shapiro family to focus on the things they value most – and they enjoy being able to live their life in Longmeadow. They enjoy it so much, that for the last seven years of his career, Glenn “commuted” to work in Chicago. “The green spaces, friendly people, quaint downtown, and historic green all make for an ideal New England town,” said Nancy. “This is such an amazing place to live.”