Charles G. Schaefer – truly a man who never met a stranger – died June 1 in the loving arms of his wife Donna at the Lower Cape Fear Hospice after a courageous battle with Glioblastoma cancer.
Charlie – as everyone knew him -- moved to Wilmington in 2007 and worked as the co-director of the Cameron Executive Network program in the Cameron School of Business at UNCW. He proudly served on the Investment Roundtable Board and his devotion to volunteer work earned him the James R. Leutze Volunteer of the Year Award in 2015. His leadership skills made him the perfect fit as president of the British Motor Club of the Cape Fear. With Donna, Charlie also volunteered at the Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College.
Charlie was a long time resident of New Jersey and spent his entire career working on Wall Street as an international bond salesman, retiring from Deutsche Bank. He was passionate about classic cars and spent many weekends working on them. Charlie enjoyed landscaping in his yard, taking his boat to the ocean during the summer, and skiing in the winter.
But most of all, he loved friends, those he had just met and those he knew for years.
Charlie always felt blessed to find his soulmate and best friend in Donna. They were married for 28 years. Their love and care for each other will live beyond this lifetime. He was a wonderful father and role model - incredibly supportive of his three children, Jennifer Molnar (Mike), of Ocean, NJ; Christopher (Kelly), of Newtown, PA; and Justin (Crystal), of Harrisburg, PA. His love surrounded his 11 grandchildren, Kira, Brooke, Morgan, Addison, Derek, Ashley, Colby, Emma, Jack, Jackson, and Lucas. He enjoyed taking them to the beach, teaching them to surf, and driving them around – fast -- in his cars.
Charlie was born August 1, 1949 in Brooklyn, NY. His parents were Charles and Genevieve Schaefer. He attended Catholic grade and high school and graduated with a degree in management and economics from St. John’s University. He was affectionately known as “Kip” to his family. In addition to his wife, children and grandchildren, he is survived by two sisters, Barbara, of Langhorne, PA; Patricia, of Harleysville, PA; a brother, Michael, of Chalfont, PA and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at Andrews Market Street Chapel, 1617 Market Street, Wilmington, on June 15th, beginning with a small welcoming reception at 10 a.m. followed by a service at 11. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to help fund brain cancer research at Duke University’s Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center.
Read More
