Minna Shapiro

Minna Gerber Shapiro, 92, died September 10. She was preceded in death by her husband, Solomon Shapiro. She is survived by her daughters Marcy Shapiro and Elsa Shapiro, her son-in-law Victor Bloomfield, her sister Ella Gerber, her grandsons Jason Greenberg-Motamedi (wife Roya and great granddaughter Mina) and Andrew Greenberg (wife Jennifer and great grandsons Solomon and Miles), and extended family in New York. She was a prominent clinical social worker in the Twin Cities who was well known as the developer of innovative programs and advocate for the improvement of ethical and supervisory standards of practice. After graduating with an MSW at the University of Minnesota in 1957, she worked first at the Family Service of St. Paul and then as the Director of Treatment at the Minneapolis Family and Children’s Service. She was well known as co-founder of the PRIDE project in 1978, a groundbreaking innovative recovery program for prostitutes that has become a national model. She provided leadership in staff development to various social work agencies, particularly in the gay community. She also taught in the School of Social Work and the Family Social Science Department at the University of Minnesota. She retired in 1980 but was in private practice until 2002 providing psychotherapy and consultation to practitioners and various agency staff. She continued to work in her practice until five years ago doing both couples therapy and supervision of therapists. She was an intrepid, adventurous traveler to the four corners of the world. She enjoyed Yiddish culture and was a fluent speaker of the language. She was known for her strength, integrity, sense of justice, and strong principles, as well as her intelligence, her curiosity, her sense of humor, and her strong love of her family. The combination of her indomitable spirit and her caring nature was unique. Thanks to her caregivers at Jones Harrison Residence and the Hospice of the
Twin Cities for their warmth and caring service. A gathering of family and friends will be Sunday night, Sept. 16th, from 7-8:30 at 165 Western Avenue N. #506 St. Paul, MN. A Memorial service will be held SUNDAY, SEPT. 30TH, 3 PM at HODROFF-EPSTEIN MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 126 E. Franklin Avenue, Mpls. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Jewish Community Action, 2375 University Avenue, Suite 150, St. Paul 55114.