Herbert Hess Schaffer ’43

Herbert Hess Schaffer ’43 died February 7, 2010, in Columbus, Ohio. Herb was raised in Canton, Ohio, and graduated from Lehman High School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society, the band, orchestra and dramatics club. At Dartmouth he was a member of the band, the Camera Club and Cercle Francais. After graduation he enlisted in the Army and served with the 78th Infantry Division in the Ardennes and Rhineland campaigns as well as in Berlin during the occupation. He was awarded a Silver Star. On his return to Belgium in 2001 he was honored by the mayor of Hoeselt and moved by the dedication of the free citizens who were still honoring American G.I.s from WW II. After the war he came back to Tuck for an M.B.A. before joining G.E. as a salesman. In 1949 he married Katherine Ann Chapin. After working briefly with the Bush Institute, he joined the Gibbs Manufacturing Co., where he eventually became vice president, secretary-treasurer and general manager. After retirement in 1984 he developed his passion for woodworking and traditional handicrafts into a successful woodworking business. Herb was an active Rotarian, volunteer in the Plain Local School District and raised money for the Glen Oak High School band and for many local activities and organizations. His wife died in 1998. Herb is survived by children Robert (and wife Beth), Anne, Nancy (and husband Bob), Sarah and Kathy (and husband Chris) and five grandchildren.