Joseph Shane

A loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Joseph Shane died of heart failure on April 8, 2017 at the age of 89 at Montebello Retirement Community, Albuquerque, NM. The son of Russian immigrants, he spent his early years in Brooklyn, NY where he met his future wife, Harriet Shapiro, when she was 15 and he was 19. Joseph and Harriet married in 1950 and their union lasted 66 years; she was the love of his life. During WWII, Joseph served in the Coast Guard Search and Rescue as a pharmacist. He returned to N.Y. City following WWII and attended The City College of New York where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. A life-long learner, he received a Master's Degree in education at Goucher College and a Doctorate Degree in Public Health Administration from John Hopkins University both located in Maryland. In his early career, Dr. Shane was an organizer for the ILGWU (International Ladies Garment Workers Union). In this capacity, he was on the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement, integrating the sweatshops of the south and striving for decent wages and benefits for employees. Later, he was the Director of Human Resources for the state of Maryland as well as a Professor of Business at Towson University, Towson, MD. Dr. Shane ended his career as the VP of Human Resources at Shepard Pratt Hospital, Towson, MD. He continued to support the Alumni Association of John Hopkins University and was an ardent contributor to The Associated Jewish Charities. An avid reader, he also shared the interests of his artist-educator wife, and rejoiced in opera, theatre, the symphony and all museums. The Shanes' traveled extensively and collected artwork from many places throughout the world. Fiercely intelligent, Dr. Shane leaves a legacy of passionate commitment to human rights and dignity. All who knew him at length are at least in part who they are because of him. He will be missed and forever in our hearts.
Survivors include his wife, Harriet Shapiro Shane; a son, Donald Lee Shane of Scottsdale, AZ, two daughters, Susan Shadoff of Albuquerque, NM, and Judith Shane of Bumpass, VA, sons-in-law, Dr. Neal Shadoff and Robert W. Burnham Ill; six grandchildren, Adam Shadoff (wife Jodi), Rachel Cobb (husband Nate), Elizabeth Fornari (husband Eric), Justin Shane, Meredith Sherman (husband Ian Salter), and Lindsay Shane; and four great-grandchildren, Eleanor and Miles Cobb and Reese and Theo Fornari.
Graveside Services will be held Thursday, April 13, 2017, 11:00 a.m., at Fairview Memorial Park Cemetery, 700 Yale Blvd. SE.
FRENCH - Wyoming
7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE
(505) 823-9400