soul of blessed memory Invincible Spirit RONELLE GRIER CONTRIBUTING WRITER A sa Shapiro was an inspiration to everyone who knew him. He was a loving and devoted hus- band, father and grandfather, a beloved employer and a successful businessman whose life was a testament to the power of love, hard work and his own indomita- ble spirit. Asa Shapiro died June 14, 2017, in his West Bloomfield home, surrounded by those who loved him most. He was 94. Asa Shapiro, whose early years includ- ed a backbreaking stint in a Siberian prison camp and the loss of his family during the Holocaust, survived to build a successful business empire, ASA Builders Supply Company and ASA Cabinet Corporation, a caring and supportive family and a wide circle of admiring friends. Asa began life in the small Polish town of Koretz in 1922, where his parents worked hard to take care of Asa and his siblings: one brother and two sisters. At age 15, Asa was sent to a Siberian labor camp, where he spent three years. As World War II began, he was sent to fight for the Russian Army and was one of the few men to survive the dangerous front lines of Manchuria, Mongolia and Japan. After the war, Asa returned to Koretz to find that most of his family had been killed by the Nazis, except his two sisters who had escaped to Israel. There he met Sara, a fellow survivor, who agreed to become his wife. After a small wedding in Germany, the new couple was detained in a displaced persons (DP) camp. In 1949, with their 2-year-old son Mickey in tow, Asa agreed to work in exchange for passage on a ship to America. After three weeks at sea, Asa and his family arrived in Detroit, without a dollar or a word of English. Asa soon found a job in a lumberyard, work- ing long hours to provide for his wife and son. While the hardship of his early life gave him exceptional physical strength, it made his spirit even stronger. “Not only did he survive, he flourished,” said Rabbi Bunny Freedman, execu- tive director of the Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Asa Shapiro Network, speaking at the funeral service. “He was a very strong man, but nothing was as strong as his soul.” In the early 1950s, Asa managed to buy the lumberyard he worked in, marking the start of what is now the largest trim and door shop in Metro Detroit. Through hard work and strong business ethics, he developed loyal customers and a devoted team of employees who he treated like family. As his family and his business grew, he welcomed his sons and, later, his grandson David into the company. He and Sara shared a partnership that lasted more than 70 years, raising three sons and taking pride as their family grew. They enjoyed spending time in Arizona and traveling to Israel and other international destinations; being together was their greatest joy. As successful as Asa became, noth- ing held more value than his family. His happiest times were spent with his loved ones, especially Sunday night dinners, horseback riding with his sons, family vacations and holiday dinners. As the family grew, his grandchildren became his pride and joy, and he took great pleasure in attending their school and sporting events and celebrating large and While the hardship of his early life gave Asa Shapiro exceptional physical strength, it made his spirit even stronger. small occasions. His son Steven’s wife, Margie, became the daughter Asa never had, and the two had a staunch and special bond that included family time as well as one-on-one lunches. His sons learned from their father the value of friendship, generosity, compassion, hon- esty and integrity. “He had a big smile and an electric energy,” Steven said. In times of strife, Asa’s favorite expres- sion was “Better days are coming.” He loved to sing, and his repertoire of Russian and Yiddish songs was a hit at family gatherings. He spoke seven languages and was known for his great advice on business and personal matters. Asa and Sara believed in sharing their good fortune and made major contribu- tions to organizations such as the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, the Mayo Clinic and many other Jewish and secular causes. Going to synagogue was an impor- tant part of Asa’s life, first at B’nai David and later at Congregation Beth Ahm in West Bloomfield, where Rabbi Steven Rubenstein called him “a pillar of the congregation.” It was there, four years ago, that Asa met and befriended Sacha Aquilar, then 2. The two shared a special relationship that became the subject of the children’s book, Moshe & Asa. Asa Shapiro is survived by his lov- ing wife of 70 years, Sara; sons, Mickey Shapiro, Steven (Margie) Shapiro and Eddie Shapiro; grandchildren, Michael (Samantha) Shapiro, David Shapiro, Lisa Shapiro ( fiance, Myles Gold) and Spencer Shapiro; nephew, Daniel (Nehama) Guralnik and a host of other beloved fam- ily members and dear friends. Contributions may be directed to the Holocaust Memorial Center, 28123 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334, holocaustcenter.org, (248) 553-2400; USC Shoah Foundation, 650 W. 35th St., #114, Los Angeles, CA 90089, (213) 740-6001, www.sfi.usc. edu; Congregation Beth Ahm, Asa and Sara Shapiro Endowment Fund, 5075 W. Maple Drive, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, (248) 851-6880, www.cbahm.org; or Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network, 6555 W. Maple Drive, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, (248) 592-2687, jewishhospice. org. Interment was at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. 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