Heinrich 'Henry' Josef Schaeffer

Heinrich “Henry” Josef Schaeffer, 81, died March 30, 2012 in Prescott, Arizona. He was born September 8, 1930 in Munich, Germany. Henry’s problem solving skills and precision with his hands led him to prestigious schools and then to begin a career in optics, grinding lenses in both Germany and Switzerland. He was chosen to come to America to teach these skills at Beckman Instruments in Fullerton, California in 1955, where he continued to work for 35 years, making friends that love him and keep in contact even today. Henry’s precision skills were never more evident than when the T.O.M.S. satellite was in danger of being scrapped, because no one could grind calcite into the precision tolerances needed. Henry was able to grind lenses out of this mineral, and the T.O.M.S. system ran in four different satellites collecting ozone and topographical data for over 25 years, earning him recognition and awards from NASA. Henry passed up many opportunities for advancement so he could be with his family each night and take his yearly vacations with family and friends and neighbors to Lake Mohave and his beloved Lake Powell. Family and friends always came before money to him. Though Henry’s greatest accomplishment in life was being married for 55 years to his friend of 71 years Erika, anyone who ever met this couple could see the love and goodness and wanted to be their friends forever. Henry is survived by his wife Erika, daughter Susan Caroline Teresa Fraizer (Tom [“Tom is not just a relative by marriage – he is family!”]); sons Peter John Schaeffer, and Richard Henry Schaeffer; grandsons Jacob (Donna), Alex, and Seth; and great-grandson Ethan. A final note from Peter: I was sitting in my back yard on the night of Henry’s death, thinking out loud the obituary I would write. I had just said that some people find God for a few hours on Sunday, but people see God every day in people like Henry and Erika because they treat everyone like they matter and deserve kindness. The moment I finished that thought, at 10:43 pm, a meteor flashed across the western sky. It lasted about a second, first a white streak turning to orange then into a lime green ball that changed to a cobalt blue flash – the first meteor entering the atmosphere I have ever seen that changed colors! At that moment, I felt a warm happiness inside on the saddest day of my life. I smiled and said, “Goodbye, Dad – I love you!” Then I looked straight up and said, “Thank you, God!” Henry is now gone, but will never be forgotten. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a children’s charity in Henry’s name and honor. Arrangements were provided by Wakelin Bradshaw Chapel of Prescott Valley, Arizona.