Dick Shapiro, 94

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. – Dick “Banks” Shapiro died peacefully at home in North Kingstown on Feb. 27, 2025. He was the husband of the late Joyce “Ducky” (Baron) Shapiro. Born in Mount Vernon, New York, he was the son of Samuel O. Shapiro and Frieda (Himmelman) Shapiro.

Dick owned and operated Special Delivery Company for the past 25 years, delivering magazines throughout the state of Rhode Island. He served as chairman of the North Kingstown Asset Management Committee for nine years while overseeing the building of the North Kingstown Senior Center and Public Safety Building.  

Starting in the “Mad Men” era in New York City, he worked in all aspects of the publishing industry during his earlier years, from sales, creating the first “greatest hits” album of the Big Bands, to VP of the National Enquirer, where he invented the idea of having it at the checkout counter. He worked in magazine and newspaper distribution in Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, running the biggest magazine distribution companies in his industry. 

He is survived by his loving sons, Michael C. Shapiro and partner, Larry Will, of Laguna Niguel, California; Peter C. Shapiro and wife Sandra (Dutton) Shapiro, of Tuftonboro, New Hampshire; grandchildren, Chelsea Shapiro and Derek Shapiro and wife Natalie; great-grandchild, Jacob Shapiro; nieces, Ann Shapiro and Lysa Conlon; and nephews, Paul Shapiro and Robbie Baron. He was pre-deceased by his brother, Alan Shapiro, and sister-in-law, Sue Shapiro.