Obituary for Robert Kevin Shapter
Robert “Bob” K. Shapter, MD, 88, of West Hartford, CT., died peacefully at home on March 21, 2023.
Born in 1934 in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, Dr. Shapter attended Memorial University in St. John's and received his medical degree from Dalhousie University School of Medicine, Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1958. He served seven years as flight surgeon in the Royal Canadian Air Force and emigrated to the United States with his wife Maureen and his young family in 1963, living in New York City and New Jersey before moving to West Hartford, CT in 1977. A devoted husband and father, he deeply loved his family.
In a rich and varied medical career, Dr. Shapter served as an internist, pathologist, neurological rehabilitation physician, and emergency room physician in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Most of his career, he worked as an attending physician for the Middlesex Family Medicine Residency Program and served as its medical director from 1990 until he retired, mentoring many new physicians and exemplifying his career-long devotion to medical education. Dr. Shapter served as the medical editor for Core Content Review, a continuing education program for family physicians and also worked in medical education programs for several pharmaceutical companies. After retiring from the Middlesex Family Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Shapter continued to serve the community, working as an internist for the Institute of Living and the Hartford Medical Group.
In Newfoundland, Dr. Shapter attended St. Bonaventure’s, where he excelled in academics and enjoyed playing hockey. He maintained his passion for the sport as a long-time fan of the Boston Bruins. Throughout his life, Dr. Shapter enjoyed photography, ice skating, skiing, cycling, and sailing. Always a lifelong learner, he challenged himself until the end, learning new skills in his later years like boat-building and options trading. He nurtured his love of the written word, leaving behind countless essays, as well as several short stories and a novel.
Dr. Shapter is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Maureen Shapter; his four children, Douglas Shapter (Caroline Foster) of Annapolis, MD., Anne Shapter, MD of Vernon, CT, Lauryn Shapter (Dennis Arbaugh) of Fairfield, IA, and Christine Shapter, MD (Maureen Czick) of Vernon, CT; four grandchildren, Evelyn Burt (Timothy Burt) of Annapolis, MD, Linnea Shapter of Washington DC, and Katie Green and Jack Green, both of Vernon, CT; and his beloved sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Harriet Shapter; his brothers, Charles Shapter and Edward Shapter; and his sister Margaret Green and her husband Joseph Green.
Dr. Shapter’s family would like to thank Dr. Michelle Stone, Masonicare Hospice, especially Denise, Heather, and Marissa, as well as countless friends and colleagues for their support.
Dr. Shapter’s family will receive family and friends on Wednesday, March 29th from 5:00 until 8:00 pm at Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, March 31st at 11:00 at St. Peter Claver Church, 47 Pleasant Street in West Hartford. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Connecticut Food Share (). Condolences may be made at
Born in 1934 in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, Dr. Shapter attended Memorial University in St. John's and received his medical degree from Dalhousie University School of Medicine, Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1958. He served seven years as flight surgeon in the Royal Canadian Air Force and emigrated to the United States with his wife Maureen and his young family in 1963, living in New York City and New Jersey before moving to West Hartford, CT in 1977. A devoted husband and father, he deeply loved his family.
In a rich and varied medical career, Dr. Shapter served as an internist, pathologist, neurological rehabilitation physician, and emergency room physician in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Most of his career, he worked as an attending physician for the Middlesex Family Medicine Residency Program and served as its medical director from 1990 until he retired, mentoring many new physicians and exemplifying his career-long devotion to medical education. Dr. Shapter served as the medical editor for Core Content Review, a continuing education program for family physicians and also worked in medical education programs for several pharmaceutical companies. After retiring from the Middlesex Family Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Shapter continued to serve the community, working as an internist for the Institute of Living and the Hartford Medical Group.
In Newfoundland, Dr. Shapter attended St. Bonaventure’s, where he excelled in academics and enjoyed playing hockey. He maintained his passion for the sport as a long-time fan of the Boston Bruins. Throughout his life, Dr. Shapter enjoyed photography, ice skating, skiing, cycling, and sailing. Always a lifelong learner, he challenged himself until the end, learning new skills in his later years like boat-building and options trading. He nurtured his love of the written word, leaving behind countless essays, as well as several short stories and a novel.
Dr. Shapter is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Maureen Shapter; his four children, Douglas Shapter (Caroline Foster) of Annapolis, MD., Anne Shapter, MD of Vernon, CT, Lauryn Shapter (Dennis Arbaugh) of Fairfield, IA, and Christine Shapter, MD (Maureen Czick) of Vernon, CT; four grandchildren, Evelyn Burt (Timothy Burt) of Annapolis, MD, Linnea Shapter of Washington DC, and Katie Green and Jack Green, both of Vernon, CT; and his beloved sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Harriet Shapter; his brothers, Charles Shapter and Edward Shapter; and his sister Margaret Green and her husband Joseph Green.
Dr. Shapter’s family would like to thank Dr. Michelle Stone, Masonicare Hospice, especially Denise, Heather, and Marissa, as well as countless friends and colleagues for their support.
Dr. Shapter’s family will receive family and friends on Wednesday, March 29th from 5:00 until 8:00 pm at Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, March 31st at 11:00 at St. Peter Claver Church, 47 Pleasant Street in West Hartford. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Connecticut Food Share (