Irving Shapero was born July 12, 1917.

Irving was a member of the Toronto-based Ontario Provincial Softball Championship team in 1938. Between 1939 and 1942, he played in Ottawa’s Jewish Men’s Softball League, earning the M.V.P. award for two consecutive years. In 1944, his R.C.A.F. softball team won the Eastern Ontario Provincial Championship.

From 1947 to 1948, he served as player-coach for the B’nai Brith Canadian Basketball Team, leading them to City, District, and Provincial Championship victories before a narrow defeat in the Dominion finals. He continued coaching B’nai Brith basketball until 1950.

Beginning in 1950, Irving played and coached numerous teams in the Jewish Men’s Softball League. He also led the “La Paloma” Junior Softball team to an Eastern Ontario Softball Association Championship. His efforts were key in establishing the J.C.C. Basketball House League at Lisgar Collegiate, prior to the construction of the J.C.C. gymnasium in the 1950s. Irving remained actively involved in J.C.C. physical education programs until his passing in 1989.