Lois B. Schaffer
Post a Message of Sympathy | View Messages of Sympathy | Printer Friendly
Lois B. Schaffer, born on November 7, 1937, to Esther and Allan Brown in Camden, NJ, passed away on February 2 after a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
Lois grew up in Camden. She graduated from Camden HS, salutatorian of her class. She attended the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in Speech Therapy. In college, she met the love of her life, Mike Schaffer. They were married on August 31, 1958, then moved to Manchester, CT, where Mike was stationed in the Army, and Lois got a job teaching 6th grade.
In 1961, their first child, Scott, was born. Lois moved to Syracuse over 60 years ago as Mike began his dental practice. In 1962, she gave birth to their second child, Rick. Along with ten other families, Lois and Mike established Congregation Beth Sholom; a new synagogue in Syracuse. Lois served as sisterhood president and eventually was a teacher in the religious school. In addition, Lois became an adult Bat Mitzvah in the synagogue’s first adult Bat Mitzvah class. Lois felt that having a role in creating CBSCS was one of her life’s greatest accomplishments.
In 1967, their third child was born, Ellen. At 35, Lois was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She turned a challenging life event into something positive that would benefit others: creating the program “Reach to Recovery,” designed to help other women with breast cancer. The program led her to work for the American Cancer Society and another cancer program, “Cansurmount.” Her goal was always to empower and provide support to others.
Lois decided that Adult Education was her passion. She received a Masters degree in Adult Education from Syracuse University. Lois then embarked on several civic projects: Displaced Homemaker Program, the Syracuse International Center, and The Humane Society, traveling to local schools with her family dog, Schotzie, to help teach children about kindness to animals.
Lois’s last career stop was at the CNY Community Foundation. Initially, her focus was on a Childcare Initiative. She then served as the Program Chair.
Lois and Mike loved traveling to dozens of countries around the globe. She was very proud of their work when traveling to Bolivia and Peru to establish three dental clinics for orphaned children. Lois was awarded the Woman of Valor Award. She had an energy for life that was unmatched. Lois was a devoted, caring, loving wife, daughter, mother, and grandmother. Lois touched the lives of everyone she came into contact with and will be deeply missed.
She is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Mike Schaffer, their children: Scott Schaffer (Sarah) of Middlebury VT, Rick Schaffer (Angela) of Bridgewater, NJ, and Ellen Broder (Jon), of Rochester, NY; grandchildren: Eli, Jared, Elyse, Mitchell, and Dylan; Nieces Harriet Brown (Jamie), Kasey Brown (Norma) and great-nieces Anna and Soleil.
Graveside services will be at 11 AM on Wednesday, February 9th, in the Beth Sholom section of Oakwood Cemetery. The service will be live-streamed on the Sisskind Funeral Service Facebook page beginning at 11 AM on Wednesday. Contributions to perpetuate her memory may be made to Congregation Beth Sholom Chevra Shas or The American Cancer Society.
www.sisskindfuneralservice.com
Message of Sympathy
Post a Message of Sympathy
My deepest condolences to the whole family. May all the happy memories you hold close to your hearts give you strength and comfort during your period of mourning and afterwards. I had the pleasure of meeting Lois at the Inwentarz reunion in Philadelphia. It was great to meet the many long lost family members my late father Milton never knew he had. I know he had lots of fun chatting with Lois and everyone else that weekend. Very sorry that because of the pandemic that you won’t have the traditional shiva that helps with the mourning process.
Written by Stuart Clapham
2022-02-04 9:55:57 PM
My condolences to the big and wonderful family. As a good friend of Kasey Brown and Norma, I have so often heard of all Lois's amazing accomplishments and the wonderful things she did for so many causes,people and animals. What an incredible life she had and a fighter for the good of all. I wish I had met her, but feel I knew her through her neices who adored her. Sending love in spirit to her family and friends. A lady who will be missed forever but never ever forgotten. Cherish all the wonderful memories.
Written by Josiah Harmar
2022-02-05 10:30:44 PM
Mike and family. Lois and I worked together a lot when I worked for the YWCA. I also was on the Board of the Child Care Council now Child Care Solutions..that was decades ago..but my love and admiration of Lois never stopped. My husband, Dick Tuttle died from pancreatic cancer in August of 2019...I did not know Lois was suffering from this aweful disease. My deepest sympathy I know how hard this loss is. I still my husband everyday. In One Peace, Sharye Skinner
Written by Sharye Skinner
2022-02-07 1:24:13 AM
Mike and family. Lois and I worked together a lot when I worked for the YWCA. I also was on the Board of the Child Care Council now Child Care Solutions..that was decades ago..but my love and admiration of Lois never stopped. My husband, Dick Tuttle died from pancreatic cancer in August of 2019...I did not know Lois was suffering from this aweful disease. My deepest sympathy I know how hard this loss is. I still my husband everyday. In One Peace, Sharye Skinner
Written by Sharye Skinner
2022-02-07 1:24:13 AM
Mike and family, what a wonderful person she was. I met her during her childcare work with the Community Foundation. She was a great resource and much help to us. Her kindness shined through all of her actions. I was lucky to have known her. Our thoughts are with you.
Written by Beth Pastel
2022-02-09 4:56:30 PM
We send our sincere condolences to Mike, Scott, Ricky, Ellen and family. Our children had the good fortune to grow up in the same time period as the Schaffer children and thus have strong personal relationships with all of the family. Lois was like a second mother especially to our son Daniel. May her memory be a blessing for all who knew her.
Written by Myron and Judy Miller
2022-02-09 5:05:13 PM
Dear Ellen and family, Thinking of you during this time of sadness and reflection. What a beautiful and heartfelt service--I was grateful to see it online and learn more about your remarkable Lois. Love, Amy Feldman Bernon and all of the Feldmans
Written by Amy Bernon
2022-02-10 11:51:36 PM
Post a Message of Sympathy
My deepest condolences to the whole family. May all the happy memories you hold close to your hearts give you strength and comfort during your period of mourning and afterwards. I had the pleasure of meeting Lois at the Inwentarz reunion in Philadelphia. It was great to meet the many long lost family members my late father Milton never knew he had. I know he had lots of fun chatting with Lois and everyone else that weekend. Very sorry that because of the pandemic that you won’t have the traditional shiva that helps with the mourning process.
Written by Stuart Clapham
2022-02-04 9:55:57 PM
My condolences to the big and wonderful family. As a good friend of Kasey Brown and Norma, I have so often heard of all Lois's amazing accomplishments and the wonderful things she did for so many causes,people and animals. What an incredible life she had and a fighter for the good of all. I wish I had met her, but feel I knew her through her neices who adored her. Sending love in spirit to her family and friends. A lady who will be missed forever but never ever forgotten. Cherish all the wonderful memories.
Written by Josiah Harmar
2022-02-05 10:30:44 PM
Mike and family. Lois and I worked together a lot when I worked for the YWCA. I also was on the Board of the Child Care Council now Child Care Solutions..that was decades ago..but my love and admiration of Lois never stopped. My husband, Dick Tuttle died from pancreatic cancer in August of 2019...I did not know Lois was suffering from this aweful disease. My deepest sympathy I know how hard this loss is. I still my husband everyday. In One Peace, Sharye Skinner
Written by Sharye Skinner
2022-02-07 1:24:13 AM
Mike and family. Lois and I worked together a lot when I worked for the YWCA. I also was on the Board of the Child Care Council now Child Care Solutions..that was decades ago..but my love and admiration of Lois never stopped. My husband, Dick Tuttle died from pancreatic cancer in August of 2019...I did not know Lois was suffering from this aweful disease. My deepest sympathy I know how hard this loss is. I still my husband everyday. In One Peace, Sharye Skinner
Written by Sharye Skinner
2022-02-07 1:24:13 AM
Mike and family, what a wonderful person she was. I met her during her childcare work with the Community Foundation. She was a great resource and much help to us. Her kindness shined through all of her actions. I was lucky to have known her. Our thoughts are with you.
Written by Beth Pastel
2022-02-09 4:56:30 PM
We send our sincere condolences to Mike, Scott, Ricky, Ellen and family. Our children had the good fortune to grow up in the same time period as the Schaffer children and thus have strong personal relationships with all of the family. Lois was like a second mother especially to our son Daniel. May her memory be a blessing for all who knew her.
Written by Myron and Judy Miller
2022-02-09 5:05:13 PM
Dear Ellen and family, Thinking of you during this time of sadness and reflection. What a beautiful and heartfelt service--I was grateful to see it online and learn more about your remarkable Lois. Love, Amy Feldman Bernon and all of the Feldmans
Written by Amy Bernon
2022-02-10 11:51:36 PM