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Joe Shaffer and his wife, Charlotte, pose for this picture taken on a Caribbean cruise in 2005. (Submitted photo) |
They left behind two older daughters. Their three younger children were born in the United States. Joe, the youngest, was born on Valentine’s Day in 1915.
When Joe was 9, the family returned to Hungary for the wedding of one of their older daughters, with the intention of staying. Within three to four weeks, the family was back on a boat to the U.S. after the younger children protested the decision to stay in Hungary.
“They had dirt floors and no electricity,” Charlotte said. “The kids put up a fuss and they came back to the U.S.”
Charlotte said Joe recalled everyone on the ship going up to watch as they sailed past the Statue of Liberty in 1924.
Known for his gift of storytelling, Joe told the family about how when he and his mother went through Ellis Island, they saw people standing behind a fence, immigrants who had been rejected and would have to return to their home countries.
When Joe was stamped, he thought it meant he had been rejected and started screaming. But the stamp meant he had passed.
Joe and Charlotte relived that 1924 trip by sailing the same route on the Queen Mary, which took them five days.
A family visit to Ellis Island also was a highlight for Joe. Charlotte said they found the schematic of the Aquitania, the ship on which he sailed in 1924.
Charlotte did some research on the Internet through the Ellis Island website and got copies of the immigration documents, which showed the family’s last name was spelled Safar when they entered the U.S., but was changed to Shaffer.
Joe’s father, Frank, worked for the cement plant in Security and Joe never lived far from that area, Charlotte said.
When Joe retired in 1980, he joined the Hagerstown YMCA and became part of a social network of regular exercisers there.
“He loved those fellas at the Y,” Charlotte said. “He made a lot of friends.”
When Joe no longer could drive because of macular degeneration, Charlotte would drive him there and he often would get a ride back with one of his buddies, often Jim Lobley, chairman of the board and recently retired CEO of Hagerstown Kitchens.
Joe walked on the treadmill five to six days a week, followed by a session with weights. He continued that routine until about two years ago.
“If you told him he was lifting the weights wrong, he’d look at you and ask how old you were,” Jim said with a laugh.
Jim said there were men who exercised at the YMCA whether they were in the mood or not, knowing they would face Joe’s wrath if they didn’t.
“He inspired people to work out. He was a great guy,” Jim said. “The guys at the Y didn’t like him. They loved him.”
Both stepsons sought Joe’s advice before making job changes. Charlotte said Joe gave good advice, but it was up to the individual what they wanted to do with it.
Robert said Joe was a confidant for many people and that many friends’ secrets went to the grave with him.
A bout with shingles three years ago was the beginning of Joe’s downward health and he never quite recovered, Charlotte said. Charlotte said she promised she would take care of him at home as long as she could, a promise she was able to keep with the help of Hospice of Washington County and Adult Day Care Services.
“I always felt Joe made me a better person,” Charlotte said. “He always made me step back and look at things another way.”
When Joe was 9, the family returned to Hungary for the wedding of one of their older daughters, with the intention of staying. Within three to four weeks, the family was back on a boat to the U.S. after the younger children protested the decision to stay in Hungary.
“They had dirt floors and no electricity,” Charlotte said. “The kids put up a fuss and they came back to the U.S.”
Charlotte said Joe recalled everyone on the ship going up to watch as they sailed past the Statue of Liberty in 1924.
Known for his gift of storytelling, Joe told the family about how when he and his mother went through Ellis Island, they saw people standing behind a fence, immigrants who had been rejected and would have to return to their home countries.
When Joe was stamped, he thought it meant he had been rejected and started screaming. But the stamp meant he had passed.
Joe and Charlotte relived that 1924 trip by sailing the same route on the Queen Mary, which took them five days.
A family visit to Ellis Island also was a highlight for Joe. Charlotte said they found the schematic of the Aquitania, the ship on which he sailed in 1924.
Charlotte did some research on the Internet through the Ellis Island website and got copies of the immigration documents, which showed the family’s last name was spelled Safar when they entered the U.S., but was changed to Shaffer.
Joe’s father, Frank, worked for the cement plant in Security and Joe never lived far from that area, Charlotte said.
When Joe retired in 1980, he joined the Hagerstown YMCA and became part of a social network of regular exercisers there.
“He loved those fellas at the Y,” Charlotte said. “He made a lot of friends.”
When Joe no longer could drive because of macular degeneration, Charlotte would drive him there and he often would get a ride back with one of his buddies, often Jim Lobley, chairman of the board and recently retired CEO of Hagerstown Kitchens.
Joe walked on the treadmill five to six days a week, followed by a session with weights. He continued that routine until about two years ago.
“If you told him he was lifting the weights wrong, he’d look at you and ask how old you were,” Jim said with a laugh.
Jim said there were men who exercised at the YMCA whether they were in the mood or not, knowing they would face Joe’s wrath if they didn’t.
“He inspired people to work out. He was a great guy,” Jim said. “The guys at the Y didn’t like him. They loved him.”
Both stepsons sought Joe’s advice before making job changes. Charlotte said Joe gave good advice, but it was up to the individual what they wanted to do with it.
Robert said Joe was a confidant for many people and that many friends’ secrets went to the grave with him.
A bout with shingles three years ago was the beginning of Joe’s downward health and he never quite recovered, Charlotte said. Charlotte said she promised she would take care of him at home as long as she could, a promise she was able to keep with the help of Hospice of Washington County and Adult Day Care Services.
“I always felt Joe made me a better person,” Charlotte said. “He always made me step back and look at things another way.”