Jonathan Michael Shapiro, jack of all trades

Jonathan Michael Shapiro, 64, of Selbyville, passed away Monday, Dec. 12, 2022, following a short illness. 

Jon was born in Washington, D.C., July 17, 1958, to Milton H. and Emma Binder Shapiro. He grew up in Bethesda, Md., and graduated from Walt Whitman High School. After high school, he attended Syracuse University.

Jon was a jack of all trades. After discovering the game of cornhole, decided he could build quality boards and Adirondack chairs, and make a living selling them. With that, Delaware Cornhole was born, and Jon saw his business flourish.

In 2015, he moved Delaware Cornhole into Southern Delaware Signs in Lewes. It was there he developed close and lasting friendships with DJ Baker, Shawn Murphy and CJ Jarrell. The lengths these four went to with practical jokes were unmatched, and there was never a dull moment when they were together. He was given the nickname Cornholio and it stuck.

Jon enjoyed playing in leagues around Sussex County with his close friends. He could always be found on Thursday nights at Duffy’s Tavern (unless the temperature dropped below 60 degrees; Jon was well-known for his disdain for cold weather). It was there he met many other close friends, and discovered he was an amazing player and an even better one with a few Busch beers in him.

Jon spent many years coaching the Indian River High School baseball team. He was an avid Washington Nationals fan and especially enjoyed watching his Canadian football team the Edmonton Eskimos play.

Jon is survived by his wife Ann Maher-Shapiro of Rehoboth Beach; his stepdaughter, Savannah Maher, and her son Kaiden; stepson, Ryan Flood; and his sister, Ellen Shapiro of San Francisco, Calif. Jon was an active father figure to Curtis Harne (Emily), and children Brooke, Leland and Julian, as well as Amanda Harne-Diehl and her family.

Jon leaves behind a host of friends, including Hamish McCallum, his lifelong buddy and partner in crime, who are deeply saddened by his passing.

There will be no formal funeral or service; Jon would have hated that. There will be a celebration of life for him at a later date. In the meantime, raise a cold Busch beer (or a warm one, Jon wasn’t picky) in his honor, and if you haven’t been vaccinated for COVID-19 or the flu, do so.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.

Visit Jon’s Life Memorial webpage and sign his virtual guestbook at parsellfuneralhomes.com.