Charles
Charles Shaffer
d. July 12, 2012
Dr. Charles F. Shaffer Jr., 71, passed away on Thursday, July 12 at Baptist Hospital in Miami, Florida.
He was born October 9, 1940, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and his Ph.D. in Biology from The University of Pennsylvania. Chuck was the consummate student and educator who then began a distinguished educational career that spanned fifty years, teaching at Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio; Florida Keys Community College as a part time professor and Provost, and most recently as an adjunct professor at Florida International University. He and his wife Robin moved to Islamorada in 1996 to operate the Keys Marine Biology Program for Wittenberg University where he subsequently retired from as Professor Emeritus in 1998. Active in his retirement, Chuck was involved in local politics writing a column for The Free Press, teaching middle school science at Plantation Key School, serving on the Islamorada Waste Water Committee and coaching junior varsity football at Coral Shores High School. He extended his love of research into various areas of marine biology, however his real interests were in the comparative immunology of marine animals, especially sponges, with some applied lobster behavioral work.
He is survived by his wife Robin Fry; step-son Joshua Criswell; children: Gretchen Shaffer of Tampa, Florida, David Shaffer of Mercer, Pennsylvania, and Jenny Shaffer Halper of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Chuck is also survived by nine loving grandchildren and many dear friends, especially Fred. He was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Thelma Rodgers Shaffer, Sr. and special family friend Betty Delprey. Chuck's inquisitive nature and love for learning was evident in the way he lived his life and interacted with others. He will be missed for his quick wit and his love for a rousing debate. A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 10 at 2:00 p.m. at San Pedro Church in Tavernier, Florida. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting that contributions in his name be made to the Coral Restoration Foundation, 5 Seagate Boulevard, Key Largo, Florida 33037.
He was born October 9, 1940, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and his Ph.D. in Biology from The University of Pennsylvania. Chuck was the consummate student and educator who then began a distinguished educational career that spanned fifty years, teaching at Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio; Florida Keys Community College as a part time professor and Provost, and most recently as an adjunct professor at Florida International University. He and his wife Robin moved to Islamorada in 1996 to operate the Keys Marine Biology Program for Wittenberg University where he subsequently retired from as Professor Emeritus in 1998. Active in his retirement, Chuck was involved in local politics writing a column for The Free Press, teaching middle school science at Plantation Key School, serving on the Islamorada Waste Water Committee and coaching junior varsity football at Coral Shores High School. He extended his love of research into various areas of marine biology, however his real interests were in the comparative immunology of marine animals, especially sponges, with some applied lobster behavioral work.
He is survived by his wife Robin Fry; step-son Joshua Criswell; children: Gretchen Shaffer of Tampa, Florida, David Shaffer of Mercer, Pennsylvania, and Jenny Shaffer Halper of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Chuck is also survived by nine loving grandchildren and many dear friends, especially Fred. He was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Thelma Rodgers Shaffer, Sr. and special family friend Betty Delprey. Chuck's inquisitive nature and love for learning was evident in the way he lived his life and interacted with others. He will be missed for his quick wit and his love for a rousing debate. A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 10 at 2:00 p.m. at San Pedro Church in Tavernier, Florida. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting that contributions in his name be made to the Coral Restoration Foundation, 5 Seagate Boulevard, Key Largo, Florida 33037.
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