Barbara K. Shore, Ph.D., 92, died Oct. 23, 2013.
Raised in Pittsburgh, Dr. Shore earned a BS in social work at Carnegie Tech (now CMU), graduating summa cum laude, and an MS in social work from the University of Pittsburgh. She married Jack Shore in 1942 and they left for Chicago, where Jack pursued graduate work in chemistry at the University of Chicago and she worked for the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, helping to resettle young Holocaust survivors. After moving to Rochester and Buffalo, N.Y., they returned to Pittsburgh in 1950.
Dr. Shore was a stay-at-home mother during the 1950s and early ’60s but stayed active, assuming leadership roles in Hadassah, Sunnyside PTA, Stanton Heights Recreation Program and Irene Kaufman Center, where she also played violin in the orchestra. She worked weekends at Travelers Aid Society. Returning to the University of Pittsburgh, she earned her Ph.D. in social work and an MS in the School of Public Health in 1972. Upon graduation, she joined the faculty at the School of Social Work where she remained until her retirement, when she was named professor emeritus. She was director of the doctoral program in the School of Social Work for almost 20 years, was named a distinguished service professor by the University in 1992 and was president of the University Senate three times. Dr. Shore wrote and presented over 50 papers and book chapters, co-authored two books and did international consulting. The Shore-Tobias Award for Anti-Discrimination Service to the University of Pittsburgh is named in her honor.
Dr. Shore was in the forefront of social justice movements for civil rights, women’s rights, sexual minority’s rights, protection of children and the aged. Her name is enshrined at Freedom Corner on Center Avenue in Pittsburgh as a Legend of the Movement.
Her numerous awards include Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania, Hand-in-Hand Martin Luther King Award, Richard S. Caliguri Award for Community Leadership, Willie Stargell Award for Outstanding Community Service, Pennsylvania Chapter of National Association of Social Workers Lifetime Achievement Award, Allegheny Department on Aging Recognition for Community Service, National Council of Christians and Jews Humanitarian Award, Woman of the Year by Pittsburgh Woman Magazine, Jefferson Award for Outstanding Community Service, Mon Valley Human Service Center Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service and Jewish Association on Aging Eight over Eighty Award. She was selected as 1 of 50 notable alumni by the Graduate School of Public Health for outstanding contributions to Public Health and was named a Pioneer by the National Association of Social Work Foundation. She served on over 30 boards and task forces and was a founding member of the boards for the Allegheny County Rape Crisis Center, Persad Center for Services to Gay and Lesbian Persons, and the Children’s Lobby of Western Pennsylvania. The Shore-Whitehill Award was established to honor individuals who display commitment in enabling people with disabilities to fully participate in the life of the community.
Dr. Shore was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Jack Shore. Survivors include her children, Erika (Barry Wofsy) Shore of Berkeley, Calif., Deborah (Andy Henson) Shore of Washington, D.C., Dr. David (Karen Catoe) Shore of Durham, N.C., and Benita (Joseph) Dombrowski of Tucson; sister, Joan (George) Shames of Pittsburgh, brother-in-law Sherman Shore and sister-in-law Lorraine Shore., all of Pittsburgh; 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Services and interment were held in Pittsburgh. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shore-Whitehill Award Fund at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, 234 McKee Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 or the Barbara K. Shore Doctoral Fund, which supports the School of Social Work’s doctoral program at University of Pittsburgh, Office of Institutional Advancement, Attn: Liz Cooper, 128 North Craig Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260.
