Joseph Henry Schaeffer

Joseph Henry Schaeffer was born on September 14, 1945 in New York City, to Leonard and Neta Schaeffer, second generation Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. Joe was the second of four, preceded by Rebecca, and followed by Daniel and Naomi. Joe's father Leonard served in WWII, and was a paint chemist who founded Leneta company, a manufacturer of laboratory testing equipment for paint companies. The family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and Massapequa, Long Island, before settling in Ridgewood, New Jersey, where Joe attended Ridgewood High School. Joe was raised in the Jewish faith and became a Bar Mitzvah. Joe attended college at the University of Rochester, where he majored in physics and mathematics. He took several computer programming jobs, including for Eastman Kodak in Rochester. In theearly 1970s, Joe became connected with a local spiritual community dedicated to the Gurdjieff Work. He eventually joined the community at the East Hill Farm, where he lived for over a decade, learning to shear and raise sheep, create beautiful clay pottery, and deeply engage inthe work of spiritual growth and awareness. During those years, Joe came under the tutelage of a master Tai Chi practitioner named Sonia Chen, and this became a cherished practice for him throughout his life.
At the farm, Joe met Ruth Katherine Buell. They married in June 1982, and their daughter Deborah was born later that year. Joe and Ruth decided to leave the farm and raise their family in Bergen County, New Jersey, where Joe joined the family business. Joe and Ruth's second child, Samuel, was born in 1985. Joe devoted himself fully to fatherhood and to providing for his family. He worked at Leneta for over 30 years, eventually taking over ownership along with his brother Daniel, after Joe's father passed away in 2002. Joe and Ruth raised their children in the Jewish faith, along with other spiritual traditions. The family were involved members of the Reform Temple of Suffern for many years. In 1999, Ruth was diagnosed with cancer, and Joe supported her throughout her illness, until her passing in 2002. Joe also took care of his own mother in her later years, visiting her nearly every day, sharing meals, and taking care of things around the house.
In addition to being a devoted father, husband, brother, and son, Joe was able to explore his own passions. In 1995, he joined a men's group called the Mankind Project, where he made close friends and was an active participant in group meetings up until his final days. Joe also loved hiking and the outdoors. He joined the Appalachian Mountain Club, and enjoyed many years of hikes, expeditions and friendships. Joe once said that he considered his true vocation in life to be spiritual and psychological growth.
Joe was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in his early 60s. Despite the progression of his illness, he worked hard to remain active and independent for as long as possible. In 2018, Joe moved to the Cedar Crest independent living community in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. He made friends in the community and participated in activities such as boxing classes and gardening. In August of 2024, Joe moved into Mountainview Gardens, the long term care facility at Cedar Crest. He celebrated his 79th birthday on September 14 with a happy gathering of close family and friends. Joe's close family, friends and caregivers were with him frequently in his final weeks until his passing on October 16, 2024. Joe is remembered by those who knew him as kind, intelligent, curious, gentle, empathetic, loving, funny, witty, and a great listener. Joe is survived by his daughter Deborah Schaeffer, his son Samuel Schaeffer, his sisters Rebecca Nalepa and Naomi Draper, and his brother Daniel Schaeffer.
A memorial service for Joe will be held on Sunday, October 27 at 2:30pm in the Interfaith Chapel at the Cedar Crest Senior Living Community, 1 Cedar Crest Drive Pompton Plains, NJ, 07444.
Donations can be made to the following organizations that played an important role in Joe's life:The Folk Art Guildhttps://www.folkartguild.org/supportThe Mankind Project USAhttps://mkpusa.org/The Appalachian Mountain Clubhttps://www.outdoors.org/donate/donate-form/