Joyce E. Shapiro
Jan. 12, 1942-Nov. 2, 2024
Pleasanton, California
It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of Joyce Shapiro, 82, on November 2, 2024, at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California, from complications of a stroke. Joyce passed peacefully with her family by her side. She was born in Rochester, New York, on January 12, 1942, to the late Frank Raymond Young and Ethelyn Isabelle Young (Jones). Joyce was the fifth generation of her family from Glens Falls in upstate New York.
Early on, Joyce was active in sports, clubs, dramatics, cheerleading, and student government. She fostered her love for the outdoors by spending summers on Lake George, NY. Joyce moved to Menlo Park, California, with her sister Denyse and mother when her father joined Menlo Park–based Raychem Corporation. Joyce graduated from Menlo Atherton High School and later pursued commercial art and merchandising studies at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
Returning to Menlo Park, Joyce worked for SRI International, where she met her first husband, Gerald (Jerry) K. Getty. With her parents having moved to Pleasanton and looking for a “more affordable place to live” they moved into their Kottinger Drive home in 1966. Around that time, her father Ray purchased several iconic downtown properties at 450, 465, and 500 Main Street. Joyce and her sister opened The Gingham Corner gift shop at 500 Main, which they operated for over 10 years. This began Joyce's 50-year passion for Pleasanton and its downtown community.
Shortly after moving to Pleasanton, Joyce joined the Junior Women’s Club, and Jerry joined the Jaycees. "Being in these two groups got us involved in many events," she would say. "Every event at that time involved dancing. Whether for fundraising or not, dances were held at the Fairgrounds, Veteran’s Hall, and Castlewood Country Club. On Friday nights, it was Hap’s, and on Saturday nights, it was the Pleasanton Hotel.”
Joyce quickly became interested in increasing her involvement in Pleasanton’s downtown. She joined the Chamber of Commerce in 1978 and later served as President. During this time, she attended a conference by the California Downtown Association to learn how to obtain “free Christmas decorations” for downtown. To qualify, an AB 1693 district had to be formed, leading to the founding of the Pleasanton Downtown Association. Joyce not only founded the association but also served multiple terms as its President. She also served as president of the California Downtown Association.
Dedicated to her community, Joyce became the first woman appointed to the Pleasanton Planning Commission, serving from 1978 to 1985. She chaired multiple committees, served as an Emergency City Council Member, and chairman during the approval process for Hacienda Business Park. Joyce and her family actively took part in many city events, including Pleasanton Day at the Fair, Oktoberfest, firemen musters, band reviews, Christmas and soccer parades, and the biggest parade of them all, the “KNBR Good Times” parade.
In 1984, Joyce lost Jerry to a heart ailment. She continued her civic work and held roles as Administrative Executive for The Doty Group in Dublin, CA, Vice President of Cooper Sword in Tracy, CA, and Executive Vice President of the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce. In 1991, a friend invited her on a cruise, where she met Robert (Bob) M. Shapiro. They married in 1994 and moved to Westchester County, NY, where Bob was an executive. A job change brought them to Michigan, and eventually, a dot.com opportunity brought them back to Pleasanton and the Kottinger house in 1999.
Joyce resumed her community involvement, joining the Pleasanton 2000 Committee, where she received the “2000 Chairman’s Award” for informing prospective developers and businesspeople about Pleasanton’s demographics, development requirements, and lifestyle. She was a founding board member and fundraising chair of the Tri-Valley Senior Support Program and chaired the first fundraiser for the new Senior Center, “Starry, Starry Night.” Joyce also chaired the Committee for the “Great Race” and led the first major fundraiser for the Firehouse Center, “A Wonderful Evening of Oz.” She later served as an advisory board member for the Firehouse Arts Project.
After completing the Pleasanton Leadership Program, Joyce passionately served as its program manager for the next 10 years. She was honored with numerous awards, including the Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Citizen’s Award, the Mayor’s Award (with Bob), the Pleasanton Weekly “Couple of the Year” Award, the Community of Character Foundation Award, and the State of California Local Hero Award. She and Bob hosted annual fundraising dinners for the Las Positas College Foundation. From 2004 to 2020, they co-chaired the Stanford Health ValleyCare Charitable Foundation, during which they helped fund the hospital's stroke clinic, which later provided Joyce with care.
Joyce and Bob shared a love of travel, especially cruising, rarely missing a year in their 30-year marriage. They enjoyed fine art, food, and wine, which they graciously shared with family and friends. Joyce cherished the "Most Wonderful Time of the Year," decorating her home with an extensive collection of ornaments from her travels.
Joyce is survived by her husband, Bob Shapiro; Bob’s son, Scott Shapiro (Shannon); her son, Rod Getty (Cathy); her daughter, Robin Getty (James Wong); granddaughters she was proud to see grow into strong young women—Taylor Getty (fiancé Sam Leiken), Megan Getty, Sierra Wong, and Grace Shapiro; her sister, Denyse Christensen (Rick); nephew Shawn Christensen (Trina); and niece Kelly Collins, with her children Mazie and Cooper.
