George C. Shafer Jr. ’51

George was born Dec. 22, 1929, in Philadelphia to Margaret Kaiser and George C. Shafer 1903.

He graduated from the Lawrenceville School in 1947. At Princeton he was a member of Charter and roomed with Wells Eighmy, Art Mudge, and Cal Rand. He earned a master’s degree from Columbia Teachers College in 1952.

George was a lifelong teacher and athletic coach, whether it was at the family-owned Camp Susquehannock in Brackney, Pa., or at the Episcopal Academy in Merion, Pa., where he was director of aquatics and taught physical education. George was on the faculty at Episcopal from 1952 to 1995, when he retired. In the course of a long life he coached a number of winning tennis and swimming teams.

He and Louise “Dede” Hoopes were married in 1953. He was a member of  ’51’s executive committee, vice president of the class, and chairman of our 45th and 50th reunions.

George died April 5, 2016, of leukemia in Bryn Mawr, Pa. He was survived by Dede; their children G. Carlton III, Catherine Cockerill, Priscilla “Polly” Dana ’83, and Elizabeth Nagy; seven grandchildren; brother-in-law Charles B. Saunders ’50; and nephew Charles B. Saunders III ’74. His brother Edwin ’44 and sister Margaret Saunders predeceased him.