Richard A. Schaffer

Rick passed away peacefully at the Fairport Baptist Home during the early morning hours of Tuesday, January 28th. He just didn’t want to have to get up one more morning. He hated rising early in the morning and usually had 4 alarms go off to get him to work on time.

Rick was born in Wayland, NY. on October 28, 1947 to Walter and Alice Schaffer. He grew up in North Cohocton and graduated from Wayland Schools in 1965. He attended Roberts Wesleyan College before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1967. He became an Electrician aboard the U.S.S. Kiowa . Upon discharge from the Navy, Rick went to work at Eastman Kodak, where he spent the next 30 years.

In his retirement, Rick enjoyed tinkering around the house, installing the latest and greatest technology in both his home and vehicles. They always had to be outfitted with chrome, the best stereo systems, GPS and all kinds of fancy lighting, etc. He liked to stand out and was very proud of his additions to the factory-built versions. He enjoyed traveling and camping in his motorhome, where he would often take his children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews on adventures. He also enjoyed hot-air ballooning and served on a crew.

Rick loved music, especially jazz. He started playing the saxophone in grammar school, a passion that would continue through high school in the Jazz Band, All Star Band, and Orchestra. He played in several local bands including the BelAirs, entertaining audiences all around the local area. If you ever heard him play Yackety Sax, his talent was obvious.

Rick was well known for his sense of humor and playing pranks on people. In high school, he rigged up a jewelry box stuffed with cotton and ketchup, stuck a finger through a hole in the bottom, and went running up to the teacher exclaiming he had cut his finger off in shop. Of course he was sent to the Principal’s Office where years later his younger sister went to work in the School Office and found a multitude of letters sent home to his parents informing them of his inappropriate antics and disciplinary measures. The pranks didn’t stop in high school. His college roomates told tales of being asleep and feeling an itch on their nose, only to find their hand was full of shaving cream when they went to itch it. Or homemade brownies dosed with Ex-Lax. Or underwear being replaced in their dressers with someone else’s. He took great joy in crafting all kinds of shenanigans.

Rick loved the New York Yankees, the Buffalo Bills, black raspberry ice cream, and a big juicy prime rib at the Red Osier, of course preceded by a giant shrimp cocktail. He enjoyed his food and at one time had the nickname “Big Guy.” He was a “Big Guy” when it came to loving his family and caring about everyone around him. 

Rick was predeceased by his first wife and mother of his children, Aggie, in 2012, and second wife, Patti in 2021, along with his parents and grandparents. He is survived by his 5 children – Shanyn Toulouse, Wendy Schaffer, Brian (Jessica) Schaffer, Kellie Bruchmueller, and Amy Schaffer, 12 grandchildren, 1 great grandson, 2 sisters – Bonita Landess and Cherie (John) Berry, 2 nieces, 6 nephews, cousins Jeanette Gardner and Keith(Mamie) Smith, and best friend of 42 years, Roxanne Schafer.

Donations may be made in his memory to Honor Flight. He never made it on his, but hopes someone can carry along his memory on a future flight. The family would like to thank the staff at the Fairport Baptist Home for his compassionate care throughout the last year.

A graveside service will be held in August. Please check back here for further details.

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