|
Edward D. Shaffer, born January 4, 1926, died of cancer on May 29, 2000. He passed peacefully at his home in Albuquerque. He was 74. Born in Albuquerque, Ed Shaffer was the oldest child of E.H. and Elizabeth Shaffer. E.H. Shaffer was the editor of the Albuquerque Tribune from 1927 and 1944. Ed attended Monte Vista Grade School the first year it opened; then Jefferson Junior High and Albuquerque High School. He served in the Navy in WWII, participating in the battle of Okinowa. After the war, Ed attended University of New Mexico on the GI Bill. He graduated with a degree in Business Administration. Edward Shaffer worked as a New York Life agent for 30 years. Ed's passion, however, was his Placitas fruit farm and vineyard. He moved to the Placitas farm in 1973 and enjoyed every aspect of farming. He loved few things better than working outdoors, getting his hands dirty, and sharing his love of life with those around him. He grew all kinds of crops and sometimes kept chickens, pigs, and bees, but he specialized in growing fruit. The grapes grown on his Tecolote Vineyard have been provided to local wineries for many years. In the mid 1970's Ed helped found the Albuquerque Growing Markets, an affiliation of local produce growers who gather together to sell their harvest directly to the public. Ed Shaffer will always be remembered. Every friend and relative of Ed's has a favorite"Ed Shaffer story". Ed will be remembered for his joyous sense of humor, for his feisty independent spirit, for his robust sense of adventure, and for his indomitable strength through adversity. Ed had a daughter, Diane Shaffer, with his first wife Dorothy. Diane died in 1998. She is missed. Ed's second wife, Margaret Buck, loved the Placitas farm just as Ed did. She grew up in Tajique Creek, NM and passed away in Placitas. She is missed. Ed married this third wife, Patricia in 1985. She too is a New Mexico native and loves farming and the outdoors. Pat was the perfect compliment to Ed; they were inseparable. When asked to describe his relationship with Pat, Ed simply said"soulmates". Ed is survived by his wife Patricia, of Albuquerque; by her children Connie Ryan and Barbara Rush; by Barbara's children Amanda and Jeremy; and Jeremy's wife Leah; as well, Ed is survived by his sister Stella Mary Jordan and husband Ray, of Portland, OR; his brother George R. Shaffer and wife Nancy of Albuquerque; by six nephews and nieces and their families. A Memorial Service will be held Friday, June 2, 2000 at 11:00 a.m. in Heights Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 8600 Academy NE, with Rev. Don Wilson Jr. officiating. Interment will be in the Santa Fe National Cemetery at 3:00 p.m. Donations may be made to a charity of your choice, in lieu of flowers. Strong-Thorne Mortuary, 1100 Coal Ave, in charge of arrangements.
|
