Elaine Janet O’Gara, 80, passed away peacefully at Lexington Park assisted living on November 4, 2025. She had been living with progressive supranuclear palsy for several years.

Her loving husband of 48 years, Bob, was by her side when she passed.

Elaine was born in Topeka, Kansas, on December 8, 1944.

 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Maurice and Anne O’Gara, and a brother, Dennis Maurice O’Gara.

 

She is survived by her husband, Bob Shapiro, sister Joan Oyler, Silver Lake, Kansas, brother John O’Gara, Austin, Texas and 8 nieces and nephews.

 

Elaine graduated from Topeka High School and Valparaiso University. She then studied at the University of Wisconsin, Syracuse University and Northeastern University. She enjoyed auditing courses at Washburn University after retirement. She held three masters degrees in French, Recreation Therapy and Library Science. Her vast knowledge landed her 3 appearances on the game show JEOPARDY. One appearance was with Art Fleming as host and the following two were with host Alex Trebek.

 

Elaine spent many years in the city of San Francisco, a city she fell in love with after visiting there as a young girl. She met Bob Shapiro in Boston, Massachusetts, at an international folk dance event. Elaine typically used public transportation, but Bob soon began transporting her. They were married on October 8, 1977, at a folk-dance themed wedding in the Nob Hill area of Boston.

 

Elaine and Bob’s mutual love of international folk dance led to them becoming group leaders in cities from Austin to San Francisco. Because of their gift of teaching/adapting dances to people of all abilities, they began teaching at the Capper foundation twice monthly, including dancers in wheelchairs. They were awarded the Easter Seals Capper Foundation Founders Award in 2013 and Volunteer award in 2019.

 

Elaine had many travel writing articles published in newspapers and magazines. She was the author of the Romantic Traveling newsletter and Travel Writer’s Markets. She traveled the globe for her travel research. After receiving her MLS, she returned to Topeka and worked as a Children’s librarian for 11 years.

 

Elaine was an accomplished musician in both vocal music and piano. Her Bach Choir once sang the national anthem at a San Francisco Giants game. She loved performing with the Shawnee Choral Society in Topeka, attending the theatre and Topeka and KC Symphony concerts.

 

Elaine and Bob hosted many family gatherings and folk dance events in their beautiful home near Lake Shawnee.