The Goldin Institute mourns the loss of longtime board member and trusted advisor Nathan ‘Nate’ Shapiro. On behalf of the entire Board and staff, we send our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. Nate was a close friend of Diane Goldin, Founder of the Goldin Institute, and her late husband, Morton “Moe” Goldin.

In 1972, Nate Shapiro launched SF Investments, and rapidly made it a highly successful brokerage firm. Within a few years, he became the single largest shareholder of Baldwin & Lyons, Inc., a publicly traded property/casualty insurance company. He served on the Board of Trustees of the ABN AMRO mutual funds and as a trustee for Alleghany Funds, a family of mutual funds sponsored by Chicago Trust Company.

After graduating first in his class in Northwestern University with a degree in economics, Nate served in the US Army and later the Reserves. He began his career in his family’s business, National Superior, working with his brothers and father.

Nate was dedicated to many philanthropic endeavors, especially with Ethiopian Jews, a cause in which Diane and Moe Goldin were close collaborators. As President of the American Association for Ethiopian Jews (AAEJ) from 1983-1993, the organization provided relief, advocacy and rescue at a time the Ethiopian Jewish community was menaced by dire threats in Ethiopia as well as Sudan, where many had fled. Through diplomacy, pressure and intense organizing, Nate facilitated the successful immigration of nearly the entire Ethiopian Jewish community – tens of thousands of people – to Israel through operations Moses, Joshua and Solomon. He continued to support the Ethiopian Jews in Israel generously as the community faced discrimination to become a vibrant and outspoken component of Israeli society. Nate was honored for his efforts by the Consul General of Israel to the Midwest and by the Friends of the IDF in 2017.

In addition to his work with Ethiopian Jews, Nate participated in many Goldin Institute initiatives over the years. In 2021, Nate was a benefactor for an initiative working with local community leaders in Philippines to deliver badly needed supplies in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette.

Nate is survived by Randy (nee Luster) Shapiro, his wife for 62 years; children Steve (Leslie) Shapiro, Danny (Anne) Shapiro, and Lesley (Nate) Stillman; grandchildren Joey, Tony, Jack, Jayson, Jordyn, Emily, Sam, Nick, Noah, Payton, Addison, and Samantha; great grandchildren Tatum and Riley. Nate also is survived by his brother Robert (late Gwen) Shapiro. His brother Norton Shapiro, and Norton’s wife Barbara preceded him.

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