Shapiro is a Westchester County Native and a Go-To Resource for Advocates, Staffers, and Constituents on Issues Related to Aging and Indian Point
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand spoke on the Senate floor to honor her longtime staffer Geri Shapiro, who is one of the oldest members of staff in Congress.
** WATCH GILLIBRAND’S SPEECH ON THE SENATE FLOOR HERE **
Speech Text:
M. President,
Today, I want to tell you about an extraordinary woman, my senior advisor Geri Shapiro. Geri is in the final stages of a long battle with cancer and so I wanted to express my deepest gratitude and thank her for her service to my office and New York.
Geri joined my staff in 2009 after she served as Hillary Clinton’s Westchester Regional Director. But she’s so much more than a member of my staff. She is one of my closest confidants, mentors, and friends. She is truly one of a kind.
Geri is an institution in Westchester, New York. She knows everybody and everybody knows her name. Everyone who knows her knows that when Geri gives her word, it’s as good as gold.
She’s an expert in so many important areas of policymaking, and the depth of knowledge she brings to any conversation is as impressive as her ability to make people feel at ease. My staff – most of whom are decades younger – adore her energy and spirit.
Geri is one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet, and she cares deeply about her fellow New Yorkers.
But don’t let that fool you. She’s also as tough as nails.
Geri tells it like it is and doesn’t pull punches. She’s fearless and formidable, and her family calls her the “expeditor” because she gets things done. With Geri on your side, you know you can’t lose.
A longtime Westchester resident who grew up in New Rochelle, Geri’s first career was as a homemaker and mom, and she devoted much of her time to caring for her aging parents. During that time, she took courses at Columbia University and became a stockbroker to support her ailing father’s business. She also volunteered at her daughter Leslie’s school where she served as Edgemont PTA president.
In 2000, Geri was inspired to volunteer on Hillary Clinton’s Senate campaign because she admired Hillary’s passion for health care.
Hillary immediately recognized Geri’s talents and hired her as her Westchester Regional Director when Geri was 59 years old! In Geri’s own words, it gave a whole new meaning to the term “late bloomer,” and she credits Hillary’s younger staffers for helping her learn the ropes.
To this day, Geri is among the oldest members of staff in Congress. She is proof positive that you can do amazing things at any age.
I first met Geri when I also volunteered on Hillary’s Senate campaign. When I became senator, I asked her to serve as my Westchester County expert. I remember meeting her at the train stop in Westchester early in my Senate tenure and knowing then and there that she would be a friend for life.
Since then, Geri has led our community outreach in Westchester and has become a deeply valued member of our team.
She is my go-to expert when it comes to anything related to the Indian Point nuclear facility. She knows the ins and outs of policymaking and procedure better than most, and she’s become an invaluable resource for people working on nuclear energy regulation, especially with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and its Indian Point decommissioning process.
But if it’s not nuclear policy, it’s something just as important, like her leadership on my Aging Working Group or her work with health care and disability advocates. Geri understands the substance of the work, and she knows how to channel her own experiences into bigger causes. But what really sets her apart is that she understands how much relationships matter. Whether you’re a neighbor, a CEO, a friend, or a high-ranking official, Geri is the first person you turn to. Her instincts are spot-on.
She connects with people in a way few others can, and she always brings a human touch to everything we do.
She mentors my staff on the importance of public service and the power of grassroots organizing. She emphasizes what it means to connect with a community and to understand the needs of our constituents. She gives everything her full attention and effort and leads by example in everything she does. She clearly sees her work not just as a job, but as a real calling.
Throughout my entire Senate career, Geri has not only been an outstanding strategic and political advisor but also a dear friend. She gives me heartfelt advice when I need it most and shows thoughtfulness and generosity to everyone who knows her. She is hard-working, caring, and the most dedicated Senate staffer that I know by her years served and service given.
When Geri speaks, people listen— and when she gives advice, you know it comes from a place of deep knowledge and careful thought. New York and this nation need more leaders like her.
When asked what motivates her, Geri says, “Do good, feel good” — a maxim that is evident in everything she’s done.
She is truly an inspiration to everyone who knows her, and I am so grateful for everything she’s done for Westchester and our state.
Thank you, Geri. We love you. And we will always remember you.
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