Born in 1907 in the Governorate of Estonia of the Russian Empire, he emigrated to the United States at an early age.

From 1947–1961 he served in the Illinois State House of Representatives, where he took a special interest in mental health issues.

Upon becoming governor, Shapiro ran at once for a full term of his own but was narrowly defeated by Republican Richard B. Ogilvie in the 1968 election.

From 1984 until his death, he led the effort to establish a permanent headquarters for the fraternity's national offices.

Shapiro continued to work as an attorney; his death was discovered when he failed to appear in court for a client and police were sent to his home in Kankakee to investigate.