Jack Shaffer, one of the gentlest, sweetest lights in the Jewish firmament, passed away July 19, 2011, in Denver. Cantor Joel Lichterman officiated at the July 21 service held at BMH-BJ. Interment followed at Mt. Nebo Cemetery. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
He will be greatly missed by his family, his friends and community, the family said.
Mr. Shaffer was born Nov. 10, 1928, in Cleveland, Ohio.
During his childhood, he devoured the works of Oscar Wilde.
There were only six Jewish families in East Cleveland in the war years, he told the IJN in 1976. I brought home my Italian football player friend in high school. Bubbe looks at him: Are you Jewish? Thats all right. Youre a nice boy anyway.
Mr. Shaffer earned an engineering degree from Ohio State University and pursued post-graduate studies at the Wharton School of Business.
He married Charlene Shaffer on June 3, 1956.
Mr. Shaffer took additional courses in English literature and philosophy at DU and CU. I loved it, he said.
A business and engineering consultant, he worked at Gates Rubber Co., Gates Lear Jet, Pre-Stressed Concrete and Jordon Perlmutter Co. After his retirement, Mr. Shaffer worked with his good friend Jerry Greenberg at ECD Development.
Read the IJN eulogy of Jack Shaffer
His unflagging support of Denvers Jewish community encompassed numerous roles and institutions: past president, BMH-BJ; past president, Loup JCC; allocations chairman, Allied Jewish Federation; board member and chair of the chaplains committee, Association of Jewish Community Centers; and many others.
One of founders of the Karmiel, Israel/Denver Sister Cities program, Mr. Shaffer also sat on the board of the Society to Prevent Blindness and belonged to the Materials Handling Society.
Recipient of numerous honors, he received the Thinking Mans Award from Gates Rubber Co.
If you understand what a problem is, its half solved, Mr. Shaffer told the IJN in 1989. And I think more people are beginning to understand what the problem is: In order to perpetuate Judaism, you must perpetuate Jewish social, cultural and religious ideas and ideals.
Mr. Shaffer is survived by his wife Charlene Shaffer of Denver; children David Shaffer of Denver and Alyce (Ken) Brodoff of Aliso Viejo, Calif.; and grandson Sam Brodoff of California.
Contributions may be made to Shalom Hospice or BMH-BJ.
Copyright © 2011 by the Intermountain Jewish News
