Obituary of Benjamin Michael Schaffer

Benjamin M. Schaffer July 25, 1936-December 24, 2024 Ben "B.J." Schaffer, 88, of Wilmington, NY, passed away December 24, 2024 at the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake, NY. He is survived by his wife, Barbara (nee Davis), son Lonnie, daughter Connie (Kevin) Prickett, brother Steven (Kim) Schaffer, three grandchildren, Hannah, Isabella and Max Schaffer, niece Britany Schaffer and nephew Will Schaffer. He was predeceased by his parents Ben and Jane Anne (nee Franckevitch) Schaffer, and his brother Dennis. Ben was born in Seattle, WA, and attended high school in Tustin, CA. He received a basketball and football scholarship to the University of Idaho where he earned his B.S. in Physical Education in 1960 and went on to obtain his M.A. at Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, in 1981. As a 2nd Lieutenant ROTC commissioned officer, he fulfilled his two-year active- duty obligation in the United States Army from 1961-1963 at Fort Benning, GA, where he was a special events coordinator in charge of parades, formal receptions and VIP visits. He was honorably discharged as a Captain from the Army Reserves in 1969. Over the course of Ben's career in recreation he was instrumental in transforming an old roller skating rink into a community center in Leonia, NJ; planning a municipal golf course in Ramapo, NY; developing Camp Hope—a summer day camp for children with disabilities in Lincroft, NJ; creating a senior center out of an old school building in Middletown, NJ; offering free concerts throughout Essex County, NJ, featuring well-known performers such as the NY Grand Opera, NJ Symphony Orchestra, U.S. Air Force Band, Michael Jackson, Dave Brubeck, Dickie Betts, Dizzy Gillespie, Whitney Houston, and others; creating the Essex County Senior Citizen Cultural Festival; running the Branch Brook Park Cherry Blossom Festival and converting an abandoned Nike Missile base into artists studios known as Riker Hill Art Park in Livingston, NJ. He retired from the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, Newark, NJ, in 1997. He was active in The President's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports, National Association for Health and Fitness, NJ Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, NJ Recreation and Parks Association, NJ Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance; and for more than 30 years, was an adjunct professor at Kean University and Montclair State University both in NJ. Ben's love of basketball led to his participation in the Senior Olympics. He organized and participated in the Fairview Lake YMCA Triathlon in Stillwater, NJ; completed the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., twice; beginning in his 40s, he celebrated his birthday by riding his bike one mile for every year of his age well into his 60s; and enjoyed skiing, canoeing, swimming and hiking in the Adirondacks with his family. Most of all he adored spending time with his grandchildren. Interment and private graveside service will be in Wilmington, NY, in the spring. The M. B. Clark, Inc., Funeral Home in Lake Placid, NY is in charge of arrangements. Please visit www.mbclarkfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest book, leave condolences, share a memory, or upload a photograph to be added to the memorial tribute book for the family to Cherish. Donations in Ben's memory may be made to the charity of your choice or to the Adirondack Land Trust, P.O. Box 130, Keene, NY 12942. ...