Lois Hark

In Loving Memory of Lois Hark

Lois Hark, born Lois Shapiro, passed away peacefully on June 29, 2026 at the age of 91.

Born on January 21, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York, to Martin and Thelma Shapiro, Lois grew up with her older sister, Sally, and graduated from Erasmus Hall High School. On October 23, 1954 she married George Irwin Shaw, and together they welcomed two children, Ava and Larry.

Lois was intelligent, determined, and never afraid of a challenge. In the early days of computer programming, she took a chance by enrolling in a computer programming course. Once she graduated, she couldn’t get a job because they all required 6 months experience.  In an interview she offered to work for free for 6 months.  That way they would not have to take a chance on an inexperienced programmer and she would have the 6 months experience she needed.  She was hired by them at the end of the 6 months. That leap of faith launched a remarkable career that led her from programmer to Systems Analyst and eventually to Vice President of Data Processing at Del Labs. For a woman with only a high school education, her accomplishments were extraordinary and a source of great pride.

In 1974 George and Lois separated.  Ten years later they divorced.

After retiring in 1997, Lois moved to Florida and married her long-term boyfriend Fred Hark. They enjoyed many happy years together. They shared a lot of adventure, living on their boat at first and then in different Florida communities from Ft Lauderdale to Vero Beach.

In 2017 Her daughter Ava moved from California to Florida to be closer to her mom as she aged.  As it turned out, soon after moving Ava was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer. Over the next 3 years Lois cared for Ava with extraordinary love and devotion, demonstrating remarkable strength through one of life’s most difficult journeys.

Those who knew Lois will remember her quick wit, fierce independence, and joyful spirit. She loved singing along at piano bars, the ocean, and above all to laugh. Her laugh was so distinctive that her children once found her in a crowded airport simply by following the sound of it.

Lois is survived by her son, Larry Shaw; his husband Richard Freitag; her niece Karen Braune; and her nephews Richard Walker, Bob Wilkerson and Jim Wilkerson, as well as some lifelong friends Pat & John Zymros and Ceil Miller. She was preceded by her daughter, Ava Shaw; her husband, Fred Hark; her sister, Sally Walker; and her parents, Martin and Thelma Shapiro.

Lois’s final years were shaped by dementia and its accompanying anger and suspicion; alienating most everyone in her life.  That was only one chapter of a long and meaningful life. She will be remembered for her resilience, her generosity, her laughter, and the love she shared so freely with those around her. She will be lovingly remembered.

Lois wanted her body donated to science.  After they harvest whatever is useful, she will be cremated and her ashes scattered at sea.  She always loved the beach.