One of New Jersey’s groundbreaking politician’s, Peter Shapiro, died Thursday at his home in South Orange at the age of 71. His wife, Bryna Linett, told The New York Times he died of respiratory failure after a long treatment for lung disease. Shapiro was born on April 18, 1952, in Newark and graduated from Harvard College in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and history. He went on to work for Brendan T. Byrne’s campaign for governor, the Times wrote. Just a year after graduating, he won his first Assembly race and became the youngest person ever elected to that position, according t…