It is with great sadness that we share that Joel Alan Shapiro died in September of 2023 in Las Vegas, NV. Born and raised in Franklin Square, NY, Joel first moved to Las Vegas after graduating from SUNY Albany in 1989 with a BS in Computer Science/Applied Mathematics. After a time in Vegas he moved back to Albany, NY (Clifton Park), then to Virginia, then to Charlotte, NC, and back to Virginia (Centreville). Joel selflessly moved to Vegas again in April 2017 to help our father, Elliott Shapiro, until his death in January 2018, and our mother, Marcia Shapiro, until her death in July 2018. Joel completed certification as an Oracle Certified Database Administrator in 2000. He was an intelligent, hard-working professional who earned his promotions. He was a people person and enjoyed his work-social relationships. While living in Charlotte Joel developed ulcerative colitis (UC), an autoimmune condition that moderately to severely impacted his quality of life. He stopped working but kept his skills active at home while hoping to someday return to professional life. Joel was a very loving and capable person who was incredibly helpful with moving our parents into assisted living, moving them from assisted living into the memory care, and moving our mother into another facility after our father's death. He was our go to tech guy, our idea guy, our activity leader, our source for good food. He always managed to maintain his motivation when family was around despite his personal struggle. Joel did the best he could to hold up under duress from his illness, but he just never got the remission he needed and deserved. After taking Paxlovid to treat COVID-19 he experienced a severe disease flare. Medication relief was brief, his symptoms worsened, and he suffered from insomnia and exhaustion. He decided to take his own life, preferring to finally be free from his body and suffering. He left a note dated September 10th and his body was recovered on September 25th. Joel leaves behind his accepting but heartbroken siblings Fran and Marty Shapiro, cousins, friends, and acquaintances. Thank you to all who were a part of Joel's life, whatever the relationship, as your involvement was very meaningful to him. If interested, donations can be made in memory of Joel to the Crohns & Colitis Foundation: Click Here