Elizabeth Shaw

Elizabeth Shaw, 88, of Port Ewen, NY, died Thursday, November 10, 2011 at home with her family by her side. She was born January 15, 1923 in Brooklyn, NY to the late Ferdinand and the late Sophie (Shamfroff) Greenwald.

She graduated from Lincoln High School in Brooklyn in 1941. She had a Master's Degree in music and education. She was married to Bernard Pirofsky Shaw. They wed on March 25th 1967.

She was known affectionately as "Peppy" by her family.

She was a music teacher for many years for Liz Shaw Piano & Organ, Kingston, NY and also in Ardsley, New York, and in Port Ewen, NY. Also, numerous achievement awards were won for sales, and was able to travel abroad with Bernard.

She was a former member of Temple Emanuel sisterhood, and Hadassa for many years, and a member of Local Musician's Union 802 in New York. She played many leading clubs in NYC and NJ, and private parties, occasions, and commercial institutions, banks, and leading spots, including performances at Carnegie Hall, and the Alliance Club. At 18 years old, she played for the service men and women during World War II. Later in life, she played in many veteran hospitals in New York State. She was also the church organist.

She was an opera buff in all the languages, including French, German, Italian, Russian, and she studied the great masters of classical music. She studied the keyboard before there were electrical amplified instruments, and evolved to master modern synthisizers to create sounds of big bands, and all other types of musical styles, including jazz, blues, rock, country, gospel, etc. She was a music teacher, but also taught history through music in the public schools. She had students ranging in age from age 4 through 84. She had teaching certificates in several states.

She also owned and operated the Playhouse Café in Ardsley, NY which was built from scratch by Bernard, Liz and Charlotte. It was a caberet, bar, restaurant, and improv entertainment center in Westchester County. There she was nicknamed "Lizarachi." Liz was also an accomplished portrait painter.

In addition to her husband she is survived by her daughter, Cathy Wittmer of Yonkers, nephew David Jedell, nieces, Joan Jedell, Bonnie Jedell, and Iris Frommer and step children, Charlotte Troiano, Daniel Pirofsky and Ellan O'Rourke, and is a grandmother, and even a great-great grandmother.

Entrusted to the care of Luke Keyser, Keyser Funeral Service, Inc., 216 Broadway, Port Ewen, NY 12401 where friends may call on Sunday from 1 - 3 pm. Services will be held at 3pm after the visitation.

Burial will be Tuesday at 2:00 PM at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, 200 Duell, Schuylerville, NY 12871.


In lieu of flowers please send a fruit basket to the home of Bernard Shaw.