Bernard Shapiro | Medical pioneer, 82

Bernard Shapiro, 82, of Lower Merion, a pioneer in nuclear medicine, died of an apparent heart attack Sunday at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood.

Dr. Shapiro retired in 1998 after a 40-year career at Albert Einstein Medical Center. He received support for his research on radiation protective agents from the National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society, the Army and the Air Force. He was the author of numerous scientific papers and was past president of the Pennsylvania College of Nuclear Medicine. After retiring as chairman of the Division of Nuclear Medicine at Albert Einstein in 1998, he remained on Einstein's Board of Trustees.

Dr. Shapiro graduated from Central High School and attended the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated from medical school at Penn, where he also interned and completed a residency in internal medicine. In 1953, he was awarded an American Cancer Society fellowship to study for a year in Norway. The experience led to his career in nuclear medicine, his wife, Norma Levy Shapiro, said.

He and his wife returned to Norway several times to visit friends, most recently in May.

Dr. Shapiro enjoyed taking photos of his family and of his travels. He was chairman of the board of the Multi-Cultural Academy Charter School in Logan.

He and his wife, a judge for the U.S. District Court, met on a blind date and married in 1949.

He is also survived by sons Finley, Neil and Aaron; a brother; a sister; and seven grandchildren.

A funeral was held Friday at Congregation Adath Jeshurun in Elkins Park. Burial was in Roosevelt Memorial Park, Trevose.