Denise M. Shafner

7/3/1932 - 8/19/2025

Groton - Denise M. Shafner, 93, of Groton, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, at her residence. Denise was born July 3, 1932, in Coshocton, Ohio to Ellis Rex Murphy and Synova Gullickson Murphy.

Denise made Southeastern Connecticut her home in 1954, and married New London native Matthew Shafner in 1970. Matthew predeceased her in 2015. Denise was previously married to Eldo Ewbank and the late Charles Frink.

Denise was the manager of Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra during its formative years and actively promoted the founding of the original Connecticut Arts Council, one of the earliest in the nation. She then became the first director of development for Mitchell College.

After retiring, she volunteered for several years in the American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery program taking patients to local treatment facilities.

She is survived by three children, Robert Ewbank, and his wife Norma, Connie Eubank Hummel and Kirk Eubank and his wife Amy; and three stepchildren, Diane Zaccaro, and her husband John, Daniel Shafner and Nathan Shafner; daughter-in-law Alexandra Shafner; ten grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her brother-in-law Sholom Shafner; and sister-in-law Naomi Shafner Daina. She was predeceased by her sisters-in-law, Janet Shafner and Ila Shafner; and stepdaughter-in-law Melissa Shafner.

All services are private. Donations in her memory may be made to the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, 68 Federal Street, New London, CT 06320 in care of The Matthew and Denise Shafner Memorial Trust. Please visit www.byles.com to sign the online register or to share a memory.