Remembering Daniel Shapiro
“Dan was a very funny guy, he always found a way to make you laugh even if you were upset. He always had a goofy smile on his face.”
From his contagious smile to the adoption of his Golf Team nickname, “Dan the Man,” these are the memories that Daniel Shapiro’s friends and classmates hold close to their hearts.
Daniel Shapiro passed away on Oct. 24 at 20 years old. He was a member of the Marist College Class of 2022. He majored in sports communications and was a member of the Marist Club Golf Team.
“Dan was a very funny guy, he always found a way to make you laugh even if you were upset. He always had a goofy smile on his face,” said Kaitlyn Romano ‘22, a dear friend of Daniel. “He was a very positive person.”
“Dan was always quiet but lighthearted and cheerful. We knew him as the guy that could always put a smile on your face, no matter the situation,” said Biagio Raimondi ‘20, captain of the Golf Team.
Daniel was a member of the Marist Club Golf Team. Credit: Ryan Pethigal ‘21
Daniel made the Marist Club Golf team during his freshman year and immediately became one of the most active and enthusiastic members of the group, according to Raimondi.
“It did not take us long for us to come up with his team nickname, Dan the Man — DTM for short,” Raimondi said. “Dan was one of the most genuine people I have ever met and he will truly be missed. The Golf Team will be playing in his honor during this spring season.”
His presence on the Golf Team was deeply cherished by his teammates, and his kindness and aura will be held in loving memory.
“Regardless of whether it was a long car ride or a round of golf, Dan made every minute enjoyable. He was the sweetest kid on the team, so soft spoken and kind,” said Ryan Pethigal ‘21, one of Daniel’s teammates.
Everyone on the team loved getting paired up with Daniel during golf rounds, Pethigal said. “His strong character kept him relaxed all day and would calm you down no matter how rough the round was going, and there were some rough rounds.”
“[He was] such a funny guy on top of it, his remarks were always so subtle, but like the funniest things that could have been said in that moment,” Pethigal said. “We’re all really going to miss him, the team just won’t be the same without DTM.”
Daniel was a fan of all New York sports teams — from the Rangers, to the Giants, to the Yankees, said Romano in a phone call with the Marist Circle.
“I went to a Yankee game with him with all of our friends — Dan and his housemates had taken a different bus than us there — I remember turning around and they happened to get seats right behind us,” Romano said. “Dan had texted me, ‘Oh I am right behind you.’ It was a really hot day and he had put this t-shirt over his head. It was just so funny.”
Romano and her housemates also live in Lower West, and they spent a lot of time hanging out with Daniel and his housemates over their years at Marist thus far. Their friend group met during their freshman year in Marian Hall, Romano said — and Daniel played a unifying role in their friendship.
“My house would always go over to hang out with Dan and his friends,” Romano said. “We are all here for each other.” Romano said the housing staff, counseling services, and Brother Frank have been a great help in assisting her and Daniel’s housemates during this time.
“The housing staff came together and tried to do as much for the students as we could,” said Joe Guardino, Assistant Director of Housing and Residential Life. “No one wanted them to feel like they are alone.”
“The College Counseling Center, Campus Ministry members, Resident Directors and First Year Coordinators are available to students for support, so please reach out,” said Vice President of Student Affairs, Deborah DiCaprio, in an email memorandum sent out to all students on Oct 25.
Services were held on Oct 28 at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in Short Hills, NJ. “There were a lot of Marist students there to support,” Romano said.
In an email note to the Marist Circle, Patricia Nocera, a parent of one of Daniel’s friends, said, “Marist accepted a great young man. He was indeed a great friend to my son and our family. I found a deep appreciation in your school, as they arrived with support of students and faculty. He will be dearly missed but never forgotten.”