Stratton C. "Lefty" Schaeffer, Sr.

ENOLA (and Joe Hill)- Stratton Charles Schaeffer, Sr., 85 – "Lefty" to nearly everyone – died at 10:30AM on Wednesday, February 9th, 2022 at UPMC York. He had been married to the late Helen "Mickey" Stahl Schaeffer with whom he raised four children: Chip, Mary, Roy, and Ted. They are all smarter than him and wrote this obituary. Born September 24, 1936 in Pottsville, Stratton was the eldest of four children of the late Vincent G. and Ruthann Reichert Schaeffer. In the 1940s and 50s the family lived on Oxford Street in West Philly. Lefty studied electrical power at Dobbins Vo-Tech school and, after service to his country on destroyers in the U.S. Navy, continued studying electrical engineering at Penn State University where he threw javelin for the track & field team. Lefty and Helen graduated from Penn State and married the same day in 1960. Stratton later earned his Master's Degree at the University of Pittsburgh. Most of his 30+ years as a professional engineer were in private practice as an energy consultant. Springer Spaniels, the farm, cold beer, kindness, humor, travel, family, and friendships defined Lefty. Hunting, fishing, birthday and other cards and love of "Libbit's baked beans" were his traditions. Interim collecting hobbies included lawn mowers, pot belly stoves, tea pots and friends from around the globe. In his second act Lefty discovered the joys of being a grandparent, and he excelled at it. Lefty's home-away-from-home was his farm on Joe Hill in Roaring Branch, Tioga County, PA. Raising beefers, tending experimental plots, watching turkey flocks and fox packs breed, hosting deer camp – all of that was for learning and sharing. Stratton had political and social opinions that he articulated well. His "Lefty's Logic" column in northern tier news outlets are instant classics. Stratton is survived by three sons: Stratton "Chip" Schaeffer, Jr. and wife, Theresa of Millersville; Roy W. Schaeffer of State College; Theodore Schaeffer, Sr. and wife, Marissa of State College; daughter, Mary Schaeffer and husband, Marcel Gavrelis of Freeland, MD. Grandad will be remembered by nine grandchildren: Twins Kaitlyn & Alexis; Elijah, Hannah, Eva, Teddy, Jr., Nicole; Molly and Savannah. Stratton leaves behind two siblings: youngest brother Vincent and his wife, Barbara of Philadelphia; sister Ruthann Hockenbrock of Fenwick, DE. At his side to the last breath was close friend and business partner, Jerry Bowman and his wife, Libbit of York. Uncle Stratton will live on as a legend to a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his younger brother, Lamar "Pinky" Schaeffer and Pinky's wife, Elizabeth "Betty" Jane. In lieu of flowers consider contributing to the Springer Spaniel Rescue or Bethesda Mission in Lefty's memory.