William "Boo" Schaffer

SAUGERTIES…. William W. “Boo” Schaffer, 91, of 155 Main St., died Sunday, October 22, 2023 at the Golden Hill Health Related Facility in Kingston. Born November 15, 1931 in Malden N.Y. he was the son of the late William W and Edith Schaffer.

A lifetime area resident, he was a graduate of Saugerties High School, Class of 1949 where he lettered in three Varsity sports: soccer, basketball and baseball. After graduation he signed a professional baseball contract with the New York Giants. He was assigned to Sanford Florida and then Oshkosh Wisconsin. After sustaining a shoulder injury, he returned home and entered the Marine Corps in 1951. He completed basic training from Parris Island S.C. and became Captains Aid aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Wasp during the Korean War. Boo completed his tour of duty, returned to Saugerties and married his High School sweetheart Nancy Sweeney in December of 1953. Boo and Nancy had four children: Cathy, Betsy, Stephen and Billy. Boo worked for Central Hudson Gas and Electric as a lineman. He later owned and operated Boo’s Tavern, sometimes referred to as Boo Schaffer’s Cathedral by many patrons in Saugerties. He also worked for the County of Ulster as a Weights and Measures inspector. Active in the community, Boo was a member of the Saugerties Republican Club, where he served as a committeeman, and the Saugerties American Legion Post #72, VFW 5034. He served as fire commissioner on the Saugerties Village Board and was a lifetime member of C.A. Lynch Fire Company and the Exempts Association. Boo coached and sponsored a number of men and women sport teams in the Saugerties Bowlers Club and in the Saugerties Athletic Association with lifelong friends, and the original battery mates, Donny Minkler and Jimmy Gage for Boo’s Bombers softball team. He also coached the American Legion and Dutchman baseball clubs. Boo was elected to both the Saugerties and Kingston Sports Hall of Fame.

Survivors include a daughter, Betsy (Mark) Weber of North Carolina; two sons, Stephen (Susan) Schaffer of Texas and William (Jennifer) Schaffer of Texas; seven grandchildren; six great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Boo was predeceased by a brother Robert, sister Frances, wife Nancy and daughter Catherine Flanigan on Oct. 9, 2023. 

His Funeral Service will be held 10:00 AM, Saturday, November 4th at the Seamon-Wilsey Funeral Home, Inc. Cor. of John & Lafayette Sts., Saugerties. Interment to follow in the Trinity Cemetery. Friends will be received on Friday, November 3rd from 2-4 and 7-9 PM.  Expressions of condolence may be shared with Boo's Family on his Tribute Wall at SeamonWilseyFuneralHome.com

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