David Edwin Schaffer

SCHAFFER, DAVID E.—died peacefully in hospice care at his home in Franconia, NH on August 27, 2018.  Born in New York City and raised in New Jersey, he graduated from the Lawrenceville School, attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and graduated from the New School for Social Research.  He married Ariel Williams Sullivan in 1951 and, after her death in 2004, he married Patricia Forsyth Owen in 2006.  He is survived by stepchildren Adrienne Sullivan Smith, James W. Sullivan, R. Christopher Owen, and Patricia Owen Taylor as well as ten grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.  After service in the U.S. Army, and while residing in Bronxville, NY, he began his career as a special education teacher of emotionally disturbed children.  He then became a bank manager in New Rochelle, NY. He next served as Vice President at Longines-Symphonette, guiding the production of numerous record albums after which he became Special Assistant to the Chairman of Longines Wittnauer Inc. in Larchmont, NY.  Upon his company’s acquisition by Westinghouse, Inc., he relocated to his beloved childhood summer home in the White Mountains where he began a private practice as a management consultant, later becoming a director of operations for Carroll Reed Ski Shops, Inc.  His proudest position was as Moderator of the Town of Franconia for a record-breaking 32 years.  He was the founder, long-time trustee and trustee emeritus of The Frost Place museum and poetry center at Robert Frost’s former home in Franconia.  He was a past director of White Mountains Community Services, President of the Northern NH Mental Health Services, a volunteer director of the Hospice of the Littleton, NH area, and a president and director of the Profile Club.

Memorial services will be held on Sunday, September 23 at 2pm at All Saints’ Church, Littleton, NH and on Saturday, October 13 at 11am at Christ Church, Bronxville, NY.

Donations may be made in his memory to The Frost Place, PO Box 74, Franconia, NH 03580.

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