NORWICH – Richard J. Schaffer Sr., 79, of Norwich, passed away late Monday night, Feb. 2, 2009, in the Chenango Memorial Hospital.
Born in Honeyoye Falls in August of 1929, Dick was the son of Henry and Hazel Suttle Schaffer. He grew up in the Binghamton area and attended Binghamton North High. Catching the end of World War II, Dick went to serve his country in the U.S. Army, and would serve again later during the Korean Conflict. On Feb. 16, 1952, in Binghamton, Dick married Jennie Pohlod. Following his last military service, Dick chose to further his education, He graduated from BCC in 1979 with an associate’s degree in business and in 1983 from SUNY Binghamton with his bachelor’s degree in business. For 34 years, he was employed by the NYSEG Corporation, from which he retired on Jan. 1, 1990 as a general line foreman. The Schaffers moved in 1980 to Norwich, where Dick continued to enjoy his family. Their interests were his and he loved sharing their pastimes and hobbies. He also liked working on his computer, traveling to North Carolina to visit his daughter, golfing with his son, and was frequently seen taking walks throughout the city. He was a member of the Norwich Lions Club, had served on the City of Norwich Traffic Commission, and was a long-time member of the Ascension Lutheran Church of Binghamton.
Dick is survived by his wife of 37 years, Jennie Schaffer of Norwich; by his children and their spouses: Sharon and Henry Hett of Wilmington, N.C. and Richard J. and Diana Schaffer of Norwich; by his granddaughter, Shana Hett; and his sister, Shirley Gitchell of Zephyrhills, Fla. He was predeceased by his brother, Ronald.
Funeral services for Dick will be held at 7 p.m. Friday from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home of Norwich. Spring interment with full military rites will e in Floral Park Cemetery of Johnson City. Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Friday from 6 to 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, Dick’s family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Suite 2, 140 County Highway 33W, Cooperstown NY 13326.