Obituary of Jack Shafer

Dansville, NY – Jack Shafer, age 93, died peacefully on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at Vincent Home in Wayland. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Pat (Dewey); children Kathleen (Steven) Cali of Henrietta, NY, Valerie (Brian Cairns) Shafer of Cold Spring, NY, Lynn (Peter) Shafer Willner of Manlius, NY, Jim (Marcela Bragagnolo) Shafer of New York, NY; grandchildren, Nicholas, Joseph, Philip, Andre, Naomi, Allie, Samantha, Juliet, Nico; and brother Phillip (Barbara) Shafer. Predeceased by brother Robert. Jack was born September 9, 1929, in Hornell, NY, the son of Gerald and Myra (McCool) Shafer. He attended Canisteo Central School and Alfred University. Tournament All-Star with the Canisteo High basketball team that finished runner-up in the Sect. V, Class B final of 1948 and 3rd place in the 880 at the Sect. V, Class B championship meet. He served in the Army in Berlin in the early 1950s, guarding war criminals at Spandau Prison and playing for his unit's basketball team. After returning, he attended Brockport State Teachers College, St. Lawrence University, and Syracuse University, meeting Pat, the love of his life, at Brockport. Teacher and football coach in Carthage and Attica before moving to Dansville to teach biology for almost 25 years and co-coaching varsity football in the early 1960s. A lifelong athlete, Jack loved being active, whether it was assistant coaching Little League or school sports, playing golf at Brae Burn, canoeing and camping with his family, taking game film for Dansville football, running sprints to the nearby reservoir, or timing himself when mowing the lawn. Jack played basketball into his 60s, ran into his 70s, and biked and golfed through his 80s. Pat and Jack in retirement had a winter home in Ft. Myers, and enjoyed many special moments with friends and family from New York to Florida. Retirement travel took them all over the U.S. and to Canada, England, France, Spain, Italy, Morocco, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand. Friends may call on Wednesday, April 19, from 5-7 pm at Hindle Funeral Home 271 main st. Dansville NY 14437. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, April 20 from 2-4 pm at Dansville United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Jack Shafer can be made to Doctors Without Borders or Vincent House, Wayland, NY