Lois Jean Shapiro Canter

Lois Jean Shapiro-Canter, Esq., 68, passed away Tuesday July 4, 2023, in Greenfield Center, N.Y. surrounded by her loving husband of 44 years, Jay Canter, her daughter Samantha (Sam) Canter and a few of her furry friends.

Lois was born on September 17, 1954, in Rochester, N.Y. and attended Monroe, H.S. After graduating in 1972, she attended Kent State University in Ohio and in 1973 transferred to the State University of N.Y. at Albany, where she studied political science and rhetoric and communication, and met her husband, Jay. After graduating Albany State, Lois worked for the N.Y. State Legislature as a program analyst drafting legislation for the N.Y. State Transportation Committee in the State Office of the N.Y. Assembly under Speaker Stanley Fink. Lois’s passion for law and political justice led her to attend Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts and part-time, intern at the Albany District Attorneys Office under Sol Greenberg. After graduating law school and passing the N.Y. State Bar, Lois began a full-time position as an Assistant District Attorney at the Albany County District Attorney’s (ADA) office, where she was the county district attorney for the Colonie, N.Y. Town Court, the 11th largest town court in N.Y. State. In the ADAs office, Lois gained a reputation for being fair, but tough, never losing a criminal case that went to trial.

Lois’s passion for criminal law led her to leave the Albany District Attorney’s Office and begin her sole practitioner practice in Criminal and Family Law, in Albany, N.Y. Lois continued her private practice in Saratoga County, N.Y. and became aa part-time adjunct professor, at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. and the lobbyist for the N.Y. State Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Lois later became the President of NOW N.Y., when the position was vacated.

An encounter with a friend and an introduction to a contact in Kenya fueled with Lois’s passion for helping women and children, lead Lois to create the Saratoga Foundation for Women Worldwide, a not-for-profit and United Nations NGO which helps children in Kenya by providing financial assistance to pursue their educational goals along with providing microcredit finance loans to poor women in Kenya to start small businesses. More recently Lois founded Saratoga Unites, a community organization dedicated to uniting groups and individuals to uphold democratic values and advocate for equal rights.

Lois’s interest in saving women, children and animals would not be complete, without a mention of the dozens of cats she saved over the last 40 plus years all accept one from animal shelters including some of whom ‘just found their way’ to Lois’ door.

A recent quote from longtime friend and women’s rights advocate Dr, Bill Baird on learning of Lois’s passing is “I loved Lois because she was a great champion for human rights, courageous, brilliant and kind. Her passing today, Independence Day, is symbolic of her love for freedom.” 

Lois is survived by her two children Samantha and Alexandra Canter, both adopted from China and living in Saratoga County, N.Y.

Lois is also survived by her brothers Harvey Shapiro of Arlington VA. And Allan Shapiro and his wife Sarah Lynn of Scottsdale AZ, and her sister Joyce Benson of Cave Creek, AZ, nine nieces and nephews and many fury friends.

Lois is preceded in her passing by her parents Mary Shapiro and Morris (Red) Shapiro of Rochester, N.Y.

A graveside funeral is planned for family and friends for Saturday, July 8, 2023, contact Lois’s family for further information.

Those who would like to contribute to the causes that Lois held so dear to her heart can contribute to the Saratoga Foundation for Women Worldwide, or the American Human Society.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.