BusterStronghart@Gmail.com

Dear Gross:

You know the story I like to tell about the time that your mother explained to me that in Russia her father's side of the family was called Katznelson, but that when they came to America they dropped the Katz, and became “Nelson.” And I responded that OUR name in Russia was also Katznelson, but that when we arrived in America we dropped the nelson and became “Katz.”

My joke may have gone over your head, but your mother got it.

Well, today I heard a story that may have topped that one.

I was speaking to the son of a friend of my father's whose name was Shapiro.
My father's friend was nicknamed "Shep" which, apparently was the nickname given to Shapiros in those days.

Shep had two sons; Larry and Peter and both went to Horace Mann about six years before we did. They also went to Raquette Lake.

Both boys went to Wesleyan (Connecticut.)

Peter Shapiro thought that changing his name from "Shapiro" to "Sheppe" might help his chances of getting into Harvard Law School. He changed his name, was admitted to Harvard and received his degree. He became GC of Time-Life.

Peter died early in life and Larry wanted to memorialize him by putting his name on a room at Wesleyan. He sent a check to a Robert Kelly, a person in charge of such donations, with the request that his brother's name, "Peter Sheppe" be placed on a plaque over a room in the gym. (By the way, If you do it for me, a room in the Osaka Shiatsu Club would be fine.)

Larry's letter requesting that his brother's name, “Peter Sheppe” be placed on the plaque confused Mr. Kelly, who called Larry for clarification.

"Mr. Shapiro,” Kelly said, “your letter says that you wish to memorialize your brother; but the name you gave us for the plaque is ‘Peter Sheppe’."

"Well," Larry explained, "the name was changed."

"Oh," Kelly replied, "I understand. By the way, which one of you changed his name?"

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