ASK THE VIEW: Who is Rose Shapiro?

North Las Vegas marker honors past patron

A plaque in the courtyard of the North Las Vegas Library, 2300 N. Civic Center Drive, pays tribute to a local supporter.lynn benson/view Advertisement

Question: I am a resident of Las Vegas and have been for 24 years. When I retired I could spend more time in the library. Over time, I noticed on the side lawn what I thought was a grave marker. Recently, it was upgraded -- shrubs removed, landscaped with shade, small boulders, planted with roses and ornamental grasses. The grave (I think), the plaque (library personnel) seems to have been completely resurfaced. The results, an overall fresh look, draws my attention back every time I am there. My question is, who is Rose Shapiro, 1896-1979?

And a star badge. Does the badge have some significance connecting her some way to North Las Vegas politics, government or the library? Is it a grave or a plaque? I have no online resources to look up information and the library personnel that has looked say there is no information on her connection to the library, although I find this hard to believe. I would appreciate your help in finding answers.

-- Janiesta Booker,

North Las Vegas

Although the North Las Vegas Library does not have any written records about Rose Shapiro, library personnel have referred to Shapiro as a benefactor of the city and the library, said Kathy Pennell, director of the North Las Vegas Library District.

"This is all passed down information, nothing in concrete writing," Pennell said. "But she donated a lot to the city of Las Vegas and our library. Money, materials and that kind of thing. At the time she passed, someone put a plaque out there in her memory."

Near 30 years after her death, the landscaping company took money from its own pocket to upgrade the plaque and plant new roses, which is when people started to take notice, Pennell said.

Adorning the plaque is a star-shaped badge that Pennell said no one on staff knows the significance of.

"Not anyone that I'm aware of remembers her," she said. "Her date of death is in the 1970s, but everyone here is new since then. Unfortunately, we don't have any written records to know more about her."

-- Tara Verderosa, View Newspapers