Carl Walter Schaefer Ii

Carl Walter Schaefer II September 6, 1934 - April 29, 2015 Carl Walter Schaefer II of Mansfield passed away after a long battle with cancer on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, at the age of 80. He was born on September 6, 1934, the first of four children born to Jack Warner Schaefer and Eugenia Hammond Ives. He suffered polio as a boy and in recent years had several ailments, including two previous types of cancer, two strokes, and open heart surgery. Carl earned his B.A. in Zoology from Oberlin College and his Ph.D in Entomology from UConn the University of Connecticut in 1964. He was extremely well read and had extensive familiarity with the works of Charles Dickens, perhaps even better than some scholars of literature. He was a fantastic musician, having played the viola in a string quartet comprised of him and his siblings, and he also had a penchant for musical composition, composing, among others, a clarinet sonata. Carl was united in marriage to Stephanie Deans on December 24, 1964; they divorced, however, in 1978. They were blessed with one daughter, Madelyn Ives Schaefer, and Carl gained a stepdaughter, Ann Jack Maclay Schaefer Harlan. Carl began his teaching career at Brooklyn College in 1963. He later taught at UConn in the Department of Entomology from 1966 until his retirement in 2009, attaining the title of full professor in 1976. Not only were all of his students' lives impacted by his outstanding teaching ability, but he was also an influential figure for the entire town of Mansfield. Carl was a very important member of the Mansfield Town Council for ten years, having been involved in some of the biggest decisions which made Mansfield the town it is today. He was also a member of the Mansfield Historical Society. All of these achievements, however, are only a few of Carl's contributions to our town and society. He was predeceased by both parents and his brother Christopher. He is survived by his two siblings, Emily and Jon; his two daughters, Madelyn, Ann and her husband Mark; his seven grandchildren, Brandon, Chelsea, Carly, Briana, Jennifer, John and Justine; his six great-grandchildren, Kaliyah, Halie, October, Billie Ann, Harvey, and one yet to be named; and his numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Carl was an incredible father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, to the extent of helping to raise Madelyn's three children and one great-grandchild. When it came to his family he was extremely generous and did everything in his power to make sure his loved ones were happy and healthy. He will be greatly missed by all. The family will receive friends from 5pm to 7pm on Friday, May 22nd, 2015, at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St., Willimantic, CT. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 at 10am, also at Potter Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society.