Suzanne Rose Herzel Fraitag Shapiro, a respected artist, fashion illustrator and advertising directer, passed away Nov. 1, 2014, in Denver. Rabbi Bernard Gerson officiated at the Nov. 2 graveside service at Mt. Nebo Cemetery. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
A memorial service took place Nov. 3 at Heritage Mountain View.
“Su served as the family historian, faithfully recording and photographing family milestones,” her loved ones said. ”In her genealogical work, she organized and shared historical documents relating to her forebears.”
Among her father’s letters she uncovered writings of distinguished family rabbis and sent them to the YIVO Institute. She also donated her fathers Hebrew scholarship and materials to the American Jewish Archives in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Su was born Feb. 15, 1919, in Boston, Mass., to the late George N. Herzel, an immigrant from Latvia/Lithuania, and Fanny Krinsky of Poland.
While Denver was home, she made brief sojourns to Los Angeles and Washington, DC.
A student at Cheltenham, Lake and North High, Su demonstrated an early talent for art. She won a scholarship to attend DUs Chappell House Art School and graduated with an art degree in 1940.
During her career, she was a layout and design artist at the May Company, senior scientific illustrator for the US Geological Survey in WW II, layout and design artist at Sears Roebuck, advertising manager at Jacks of Denver, fulltime artist at Neusteters, owner of the Suzanne Herzel Advertising Agency and art director at Crow Publications.
Su was married to Harry Fraitag, formerly of Yonkers, from 1951 until his death in 1978.
She later married Alec Shapiro, formerly of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They were together until Alecs death in 2012.
Su’s artwork appeared in several exhibits from 1995-2005. Her fashion illustrations were featured in ”The ’50s Decade” at the Colorado Historical Museum, and her posters and illustrations were highlighted in “Rockmount Ranch Wears Cowboys and Rock Stars” exhibit in 2011.
Suzanne Shapiro is survived by her children Frances (Mitchell) Harris and Estee Fraitag; grandchildren Daniel (Kathy) McJacobson, Simon Jacobson, Simm Wheeler, Hanna Wheeler and Emma (Robert) Harris; and great-grandchildren Martin McJacobson and Gabriel Harris.
Contributions may be sent to Rodef Shalom and KVOD/Colorado Public Radio.
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