Gloria Hindin Shapiro Oppenheimer, pioneering Green Acres realtor, dies at 95

The Green Acres and greater Valley Stream community is grieving the loss of Gloria Hindin Shapiro Oppenheimer, a long-time resident and pioneering Realtor who left a lasting impact on her neighborhood. Gloria, originally from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, died in Hewlett, where she spent her summers. She was 95.

Gloria was born to Harry and Frieda Tusitsky Hindin and grew up with her sister Sylvia Hindin Baxt Moreau. A graduate of Lafayette High School, she went on to attend Brooklyn College. In 1950, Gloria married Jerome Shapiro, also a Brooklyn native. The couple eventually settled on Firethorne Lane in Green Acres, where they raised their two daughters.

Their close-knit community included neighbors Eric and Sylva Oppenheimer, who had three children of their own. Eric Oppenheimer, a Holocaust survivor and the owner of the well-known Central Hardware on Central Avenue, was a key figure in the neighborhood. Following the deaths of their respective spouses in the early 1990s, Gloria and Eric found companionship in each other, marrying in 1995. Their union brought together their two families and marked the beginning of a joyful 23-year marriage, which lasted until Eric’s death in 2018.

Gloria’s professional life was marked by her success as a trusted Realtor in Green Acres and the surrounding area. She had the unique privilege of guiding original homeowners and buyers through the often emotional process of selling and buying homes in the community, which is now known as Mill Brook. But her legacy extends beyond her real estate acumen; Gloria was a trailblazer who broke racial barriers in Green Acres. She made history by selling a home on Eastwood Lane to an Indian couple and another on Firethorne Lane to an interracial couple, helping to pave the way for the diverse and thriving community that Green Acres is today.

Gloria is survived by her daughters, Robin Shapiro and Beth Tarica, as well as her stepchildren, Alan Oppenheimer, Deborah Oppenheimer, and Wendy Oppenheimer. She also leaves behind a loving legacy of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including Robin’s daughter, Rachel Abrams; Beth’s children, Zachary, Jeremy, and Jaclyn Fershtman; Alan’s sons, Alexander and Jesse; Wendy’s children, Michael, Sam, and Brittany Martorella; and her great-grandchildren, Liev and Maia Fershtman, and Reese Martorella.

Gloria spent her winters in Boca Raton, Florida, but remained a cherished member of the Green Acres community, maintaining close friendships with neighbors like Sallie Newman of Firethorne Lane and the late Ruth Garr of North Woodmere.

A funeral service for Gloria was held on Sunday, July 21, at Boulevard-Riverside Chapels in Hewlett, followed by a committal service at Wellwood Cemetery in West Babylon. Gloria will be remembered not only for her professional achievements but also for her enduring love and commitment to her family and community.