Frederick Seymour Schaeffer

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Frederick (Fred) Seymour Schaeffer, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and advocate for social justice, who left this world peacefully on May 5th, 2026, at the age of 88. He was born in Brownsville, Brooklyn, NY, on March 21, 1938, to the late Albert and Sophie Schaeffer. Fred is survived by his beloved wife, Betty Schaeffer, his partner for 62 years. His love and legacy continue through his children: Julie Hanfland (Bob) with their daughters Rachel and Sarah; and Aaron Schaeffer with his daughter Kendall. Fred cherished his role as a grandfather and took immense pride in his family, who were constant sources of joy in his life. 

Fred graduated from Stuyvesant Magnet High School in Manhattan, followed by earning a B.S. in Mathematics from Brooklyn College and a Master's degree in Operations Research from Northwestern University.

 For 38 years, Fred dedicated himself to his work at Eastman Kodak in mathematics and operations research. While at Kodak, Fred was instrumental in developing a middle school mentoring program and supported the creation of a breakfast program for children in Rochester City schools. His professional commitment was matched by his passion for social justice, where he made significant contributions through Metro Justice and the Judicial Processing Commission (JPC), serving as chair for 15 years, working to create a fairer world for all. 

Fred will be remembered for his genuine love for all people, his unwavering commitment to justice, humility, and the belief that positive change is always achievable. 

A Celebration of Life will be held this upcoming fall. In honor of Fred’s lifelong dedication to social justice, memorial contributions may be made to Metro Justice (metrojustice.org/donate) or the Judicial Process Commission in Rochester, NY (rocjpc.org/donate-now).