Donald C. Shaffer

Donald Cole Shaffer, 96, died on April 9, 2023, at the Iron County Medical Care Facility in Crystal Falls, MI. He was born in Lackawanna, NY on July 19, 1926, to Russell and Alice (Cole) Shaffer. His parents moved to Long Island, NY, eventually settling in Great Neck. At Great Neck High School, he was a wrestler and editor of the yearbook. He played alto saxophone in the school marching band and also in a swing dance band called the Streamliners. Donald proudly served in the U.S. Navy in WWII aboard the USS Brookings in the Pacific during the Philippine and Okinawa campaigns, achieving the rank of Coxswain, 3rd Class Petty Officer. After his honorable discharge, he went to Brown University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1950. In January 1954, he married the former JoAnn Brooks of Great Neck. Together they raised a family while residing in Los Angeles, CA, Huntington, NY, Atlanta, GA, and Wilton, CT. He had a long career in sales, marketing, and clothing manufacturing with J.C. Penny and Oxford Industries. Upon retirement in 1989, he and JoAnn moved to Ponte Vedra Beach, FL where he especially enjoyed playing tennis, reading, crossword puzzles, and watching wildlife, especially birds and alligators. He volunteered at M.K. Rawlings School as a classroom reader and was a hospice volunteer for 10 years. Donald was a member of Palms Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville Beach and served as an usher and on many committees. He also was active with Sawgrass Country Club and supporter of tennis programs including the SeniorRITA Tournament fundraiser for cancer research. His beloved wife of 57 years preceded him in death in June 2011. In 2013 he relocated to Cypress Village Assisted Living in Jacksonville, where he lived for nine years before relocating in 2022 to Iron County, MI in order to live closer to family. In addition to his wife, he was also preceded in death by one sister, Sally Freeman of Green Valley, AZ. Donald is survived by his four children, Bryan Shaffer of Seymour, CT, Donna (Jon) Ahlberg of Iron River, MI, Randall Shaffer of Fort Collins, CO, and Scott (Jennifer) Shaffer of Hopkinton, MA; five grandchildren, Abigail, Anders, Gregory, Avery, and Zoe; sister, Susan Miller of Westport, CT; brother, Russell Shaffer of Essex Center, CT; brother-in-law, Tom (Lynn) Brooks of Atlanta, GA; extended family and friends. His abiding faith in God and love of country were vital to him. A private memorial service will be held at a later date with interment of ashes at Palms Presbyterian Church Columbarium in Jacksonville Beach, FL. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald C. Shaffer, please visit our flower store.