Andrew Schaefer

I was so sorry to hear of Andy’s passing! I worked at Riverview Place and was always glad to spend a few minutes every day talking to him. I was always amazed when he talked about all his many hobbies and interests! Always busy, he seemed that he ” hit the floor at a full run, and never looked back”. A gentleman and all-round great guy…he will be missed!

Andy and I shared many hours together building airplanes, piloting our planes, playing pickleball and just hanging out together. His warm friendship will be sincerely missed. God Speed my friend, FLY HIGH!

Frank and I were very saddened to hear of Andy’s passing. He was a wonderful friend. We always looked forward to our weekly card games and thoroughly enjoyed listening to many interesting stories of his life. He will be greatly missed. Our heartfelt sympathy to the Schaefer family.

My Adventures with Andy Schaefer

I was ten years old when I first met Andy in 1959 when he was dating my sister, Phyllis. He was handsome with dark hair, a wonderful smile, beautiful white teeth and drove an Edsel Convertible. I learned a number of valuable skills from Andy while I was still quite young. Apparently, I’m not the only one Andy taught to play poker. My Dad taught me the basics of poker while Andy enhanced my skills with his many tips & tricks. I still use his methods. After Phyllis & Andy married in 1960, I spent a week at their home in Monticello. This is where he attempted to teach me how to shoot a rifle. Jesu Christi! The gun was about as tall as I was and he’s talking me through this while he’s standing behind me making sure I followed his directions to a “T”. He had forewarned me about the “kick” and then helped me with my stance. Now, I’m ready for the next big step and when he said “shoot” I pulled the trigger. I don’t know if I hit anything but that gun kicked so hard that it shot me backward into Andy’s arms. He held me upright for a few seconds so I could get my bearings before I ran back to the safety of my sister. That’s the first and last time I ever shot a gun.

A few days later I learned about dogs and hunting from Andy. My Dad had purchased a German Short-hair we called “Lady”. Even though Lady was my brother’s dog, I loved that dog. Every Saturday morning when I finished my cereal, I added more cereal and milk to the bowl to take out to Lady. She loved me! The day came that it was decided that Lady would be better off with Andy where she could run in the field and enjoy being a dog. One day while visiting, I was outside petting Lady when Andy came home from work. He parked the truck, shut off the engine, and came running to the back where I was petting Lady. He hollered out, “Hey, hey you can’t be petting Lady!” Well, I was shocked!! “What do you mean, I can’t pet Lady?!” Andy tried explaining to me that Lady was now a hunting dog in training so I couldn’t pet her anymore. Shocked and crying I went back to the safety of my sister once again with tears rolling down my cheeks. I believe Andy learned to never tell a 10-year old she can’t pet the dog she used to feed and love! I have to admit I deducted a few points on my “ratings sheet” for Andy until he made amends.

The following summer we had a large family gathering at my parents’ house. The day started at the lake where we took turns riding on a homemade surf board behind my Dad’s new boat. I was ten and when it was my turn I was given Position #1 on the board and “Person #2” stood behind me manning the rope. After our ride around the lake, we were taken back to the dock where it was expected we would get off. “Person #2” let go of the rope but failed to throw it “over” my head which allowed the rope to tangle around my waist. I am now being pulled slowly by the boat with the rope tightening around my waist. Unfortunately, the people in the boat thought I just wanted to go for another ride and sped up. Andy was watching from the dock and immediately knew I was in trouble with the rope and understood my plight. Andy dove in, swam out to where I was behind the boat, and took control of me while getting me back to safety. From the time Andy took control of me until I was back on shore, I do not remember anything. All I know is Andy saved my life that day!! The “points” he lost over the dog were added back to his ratings sheet and then some.

Andy helped me when I was young and I like to think I helped him after Phyllis died. I understood his loneliness and how he hated eating meals alone. We spent many hours on the phone during those years and while he was “trying to put something together” as he called it with a new woman he had met. He so badly wanted a special someone in his life but a long-standing relationship didn’t happen for him. I admired that he never lacked energy during this time and was always on the go investigating something unfamiliar to him and/or doing something he had never done before. Ya gotta wonder if he’s playing pickle ball, hiking, flying a plane, keeping bees, playing poker or making pie crusts using flour tortillas with his friends in Heaven.

Was sorry to hear of Andy’s passing. We all enjoyed him while he lived here in Westbrook Village. He was fun to play cards with. and enjoyed him at various parties and dances. he was missed when he moved away. Peace to all of his family.

I remember the day when Andy drove me up to my Cabin at Stoneman Lake north of Sedona. We had a great day walking around the lake He like to walk. Sorry to here about your lost Will miss him especially playing hand and foot God bless you Millie Sigona