Cris H. Schaefer

Cris Hayden Schaefer

Cris Schaefer, 80, passed away peacefully on April 15th, surrounded by his family at home in Woodbury, CT. Cris was born in Longbranch, NJ on Nov 18, 1936, a longtime resident of Woodbury, CT. He was the son of Raymond and Amy Schaefer. He graduated from Deerfield Academy class of 1955, received a degree in Physics from Williams College in 1959, and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1964. Cris served as a Special Weapons Officer in Kodiak, Alaska for the U.S. Navy from 1959-1961.

Over the years, Cris held marketing and development positions with Texas Instruments, Brand Rex Co., ITT, Kerite and Hubbell Incorporated.  At Hubbell, he was responsible for mergers and acquisitions of various businesses around the world, as well as implementation of lean business practices.  He was actively involved in the community, church and local politics throughout his life. He acted as Development Manager for Flanders Nature Center, a member of the Inland Wetlands Commission in Woodbury, and Director of the North Congregational Church Youth Group. In 2006 Cris followed his environmental passion and became the Executive Director of the Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition. 

Cris is survived by his loving wife, Blaine, whom he met as a naval officer in San Francisco and brought back east, where they’ve spent the last 54 years sharing their life together and raising their family. He is also survived by his three daughters; Elizabeth Burke of New Canaan, CT (married to Paul Burke), Laura Wildman of Glastonbury, CT (married to Timothy Wildman) and Jennifer Schaefer of Hampton Bays, NY, and his five grandchildren; Hannah, Blaine, Hailey, Cora Linn and Hayden. In addition, Cris is survived by his three sisters--Sandy Shultz, CA, Susan Goodnough, NH, and Laurie Paci, FL-- as well as many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends knew Cris as a man who loved people and who loved nature.  He inspired everyone who knew him with his unique ability to make each and every person he met feel special. He shared his love of community and nature with his family and friends through family get-togethers at the lake, group hikes along the Appalachian Mountain trail, and numerous camping and fishing trips.

Cris was direct, honest, kind, and aggressively friendly; with a firm, hearty handshake that always left an impression. He was a member of Highfield and Middlebury Swim Club and was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hiking, fishing, gardening, swimming, tennis, golf, jogging, and had a “killer” serve in ping-pong.

In addition to the family home in Woodbury, where he and Blaine lived for 38 years, his favorite place was the cabin on Crescent Lake in Wolfeboro, NH, where his entire extended family, including his three sisters and their families, gathers each summer.

Cris leaves behind him a prolific collection of written histories of his family, including “The Road from Cora Linn” about his Scottish ancestors, “The Path from the Western Woods” about his German ancestors, “Trails to the Valley of the Sun” about Blaine's American ancestors from the Old West, and his final book, “Raymond H. Schaefer - Biotech Visionary" about his father. 

A celebration of Cris’ life will be held at the North Congregational Church in Woodbury, CT at 1pm on Saturday April 29th, followed by a church reception and burial at the North Cemetery.  In addition, family and friends are invited to the Schaefer's home after the burial to continue our remembrance of Cris.

Memorial contributions can be made to;

Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) - 5 Joy Street, Boston,MA 02108 - (617) 523-0636 or via the website www.outdoors.org/tribute 

or

The Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition - 39 Sherman Hill Rd. Suite C-103, Woodbury, CT 06798 (203) 263-0076 or via the website www.pomperaug.org (click donate)

If you need a hotel in the area please try the Curtis House, Milestone Motel in Woodbury, or the Heritage Inn in Southbury.

Munson Lovetere Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

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