Steven Morse Schaefer

Steven Morse Schafer, age 63, of West Newton, passed away on

August 1, 2022 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Beloved husband of Jodi Hayman Schaefer. Loving father of Madison

Jaclyn Schaefer and Maxwell Hayman Schaefer. Loving uncle of Jesse,

Theodore (T.J.) and Geoffrey Schaefer, Emily Golembiski, Hannah

Eisenband, Olivia Gilmore, Eliana and Sasha Freidman. Brother of the

late Theodore Blake Schaefer.

Steve was born in Chicago, IL on September 2, 1958 to Theodore and

Judith (Blake) Schaefer. He was a 1976 graduate of Newton North High

School. He attended the University of Wisconsin where he received a

BA in Journalism. After nearly 15 years as a sports and news writer,

Steve went back to school and earned a MS in Natural Resource

Management and Policy from the SUNY College of Environmental

Science and Forestry. He then spent the last 20 years of his professional

career in Institutional Advancement where he held various positions in

front-line Development. Steve had an invaluable ability to

communicate, connect and provide mentorship to many colleagues. He

effortlessly cultivated and maintained lifelong relationships in both his

professional and personal life.

For Steve, life was all about learning and growing. He started every

morning by reading the Boston Globe. Because of his continual

curiosity, he knew a lot about a lot. This was evident when every

evening Steve shouted out correct Jeopardy answers at the TV.

Steve was an avid sports fan, loving all New England teams, the

Wisconsin Badgers and the Emory Eagles. His favorite teams were

those of his children, where he coached, watched and cheered on their

efforts. He coached youth soccer and the Newton Bluefish swim team.

For more than 12 years, he happily worked with countless swimmers to

help them improve and succeed as both athletes and individuals. Steve’s

genuine interest in people from all walks of life made him an invaluable

member of the community.

There is no doubt that Steve’s happy place was at Bow Lake in New

Hampshire. For more than 50 years he summered there with family and

friends, doing all things that he loved most: spending time outdoors,

swimming, fishing, canoeing, reading, listening to sports radio or music,

creatively solving problems, imbibing, and most importantly, spending

time with family. He didn’t need much, but truly valued the quality time

that he got to spend with the people he loved the most.

In his final days, Steve mentioned that he just wanted to be a good

person and I think we can all agree, that is exactly how we will all

remember him. A private Memorial Service is being held but the

family would be honored to have all that knew him join us for a

celebration of life, Saturday, August 13, 2-5pm at the Nathaniel Allen

House, 35 Webster Street, West Newton, MA. Please park in the lot of the Family Access Building, 492 Waltham Street, one block away

Because Steve was a naturalist with “roots” in Newton, gifts may be made in his memory to

the Newton Tree Conservancy. http://newtontreeconservancy.org/donate

Once directed to the payment page, open "write a note" and add "In memory of Steve Schaefer"