Mae Estelle Shapiro's Obituary
Mae Estelle Shapiro of Cape Coral left the loving arms of her family on Friday, May 23, 2014. Mae was born on May 13, 1931 in Brooklyn, New York to Nathan and Fannie Salesky who were immigrants from Poland and Russia. Mae graduated from Tilden High School in 1947 and from Brooklyn College in 1951 with a degree in education but she had a passion for business. Married to Samuel Shapiro in 1951, she and Sam proceeded to be partners in a series of different successful retail businesses from 1955 through 2001, including Reinettes in Springfield, NJ, a childrens’ clothing shop, Ace Drug in Morristown, NJ, Medicare Equipment Centers in Lancaster and other PA locations, Medicare Patient Aid Centers in Southwest Florida, and Medical Department Stores in Fort Myers, Florida. She was in the accounting department, sales, and was Vice President.Mae was a pioneer with the billing for durable medical equipment, oxygen and breast prostheses under the Medicare Part B program starting in 1965. Using wide 20 column green-sheets, she created a tracking system for the new complex Medicare billing activities that included (and still include) the billed charge – the allowable – the deductible – the coinsurance – the collections from any secondary payer and the collection from the patient.Mae worked with a key prostheses manufacturer and was successful in getting the Medicare Program to cover breast prostheses.Mae was one of the first certified professional fitters for breast prostheses and specialized associated garments used for women who have had mastectomies to fight breast cancer. She also was a trainer to train others to be certified professional fitters.However, her greatest joy was from her 63 year “honeymoon” marriage to Sam, and from her five daughters and 13 grandchildren. Mae met Sam at a NY summer camp when they were both in high school. He was from Plainfield, NJ so they corresponded and traveled to be together until they finished college, at which time they got married. Mae said she chose Sam because he was tall, smart and made her laugh. They both shared a passion for music, movies and antiques.Mae is survived by her five daughters: Nannette Palumbo, President and CEO of MDS Discount Embroidery in North Fort Myers, FL, Reina Schlager, Co-owner and CPA/Personal Financial Specialist at SS&L of Fort Myers, FL, Lynn Shapiro Snyder, Senior Law Partner at Epstein Becker & Green, Washington, D.C., Jeanne Nahan, Choral Director and Music Teacher, Princeton Charter School, NJ and Sondra Bollar, Software Director and Release Manager at Oracle Corporation, Redwood Shores, California. Sons-in-law include John Palumbo (deceased May 25, 2010), Robert Schlager, Jeffrey Snyder, Arthur Nahan; and Mark Bollar. Mae and Sam also have 13 outstanding grandchildren ranging in ages from 32 to 10 years old. Mae is also survived by her older brother, Willard Salesky, of West Palm Beach, FL.Mae’s happiest moments were spending time with Sam in their home in Cape Coral, FL and spending time with her family wherever they may be located. She also enjoyed her work, particularly her time serving her customers in the various retail stores. Mae was a member of Temple Judea and a member of the Hadassah organization.Her grandchildren include Erica and Michelle Palumbo; Amanda Wick (Brett) and Matthew Schlager (Lisa); Rachel, Isaac and Eitan Snyder; Rachel, William and Bruce Nahan; Joshua, Hannah and Eric Bollar.The family will be observing Shiva in Florida on Monday and Tuesday evenings starting at 6:30 pm at Reina and Robert Schlager’s home.Please visit www.fortmyersmemorial.com to view the full obituary and to express condolences to the family by signing Mae’s guest book. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory should be directed to the Mae Shapiro Memorial Fund established at Temple Judea, www.tjswfl.org.
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