Weigel Chairman Howard Shapiro Dies At 86

Weigel Broadcasting Co. Chairman Howard Shapiro, 86, died Thursday of pneumonia at home. He guided Weigel Broadcasting from a single struggling UHF station in Chicago to a company with more than 10 stations in three markets as well as involvement in two national broadcast networks.

As recently as last week Shapiro was in his office signing checks, conducting business and telling stories. A company statement said: “His devotion to serving the under-served was his mantra and is a guiding force in all of Weigel’s business pursuits.”

A graduate of Purdue University, Shapiro received a BS degree in electrical engineering. While at Purdue he worked at WBAA-AM, as well at a local commercial radio station. In addition, he participated in a Navy program while attending the university and upon graduation was commissioned during World War II. After the war, he pursued graduate studies at Northwestern University.

His life-long love affair with television began in 1964 when he was one of the first advertisers on WCIU-TV, Chicago’s first UHF station. His iconic advertisements were for C.E.T., a television retailer that Howard founded in 1949. Longtime Chicagoans will remember C.E.T.’s jingle and phone number, Mohawk 4-4100.  He later bought stock in the financially troubled station and eventually took over operations and ownership through the late 1960s and early ’70s.

Shapiro was president of the Chicago Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences from 1983 to 1987, and was awarded its Silver Circle Award in 1997.

Howard was married to Jacqueline Cooper Shapiro who preceded him in death in 2003. He is survived by his three sons Norman (Lilli Scheye), Ken, and David Shapiro and daughter Caroline (Barry) Smith, and four grandchildren; Alissa, Emma, Sydnie, and Landon.

Funeral arrangements are pending.