Steven D. Schafer

Steve leaves behind his wife of 35 years, Mary; his children, Djani and Steven Jr.; “adopted” son, Steven (“Bama”); daughter-in-law, Alexa; granddaughter, Stevie Rose, and beloved best friend, Cheyanne. He also leaves behind his mother, Mary Beth, and two brothers, Robert and Aaron.

Steve was born on November 22, 1962 in Seattle, WA to Mary Beth and Fred (Schafer). After high school, he completed his mission trip in Brazil and in 1986, became a Correctional Officer at Donovan Correctional Facility.

Shakey met his beautiful wife Mary, the woman who would stand by his side through thick and thin, in February of 1987, while playing on the Chino Correctional Facility volleyball team. After a very quick romance, they married on December 5, 1987.

The years they got to spend together were full of love and adventure—raising kids, coaching Steven’s soccer and baseball teams, traveling, playing ukuleles, and watching the Padres. Some of their favorite trips together were road trips with the kids up to Utah and Idaho, a cruise to view the solar eclipse in Aruba, a family trip to London, a cruise through the Panama Canal, and a two-week tour through Ireland’s countryside.

Retirement, after 29 ½ years as a Correctional Officer, didn’t slow Steve down at all. He and Cheyanne religiously walked the park twice a day and met a lot of friends (dog and human) along the way. He went to Over the Line tournaments and national conferences with the Emerald Society. He and Mary joined the Merry Ukes, who meet every week to play ukuleles together. And he met up with the other retired CDC officers for their Monday breakfast as often as he could.

Steve loved tending to the hummingbird feeders which he kept all around the front and back yards. And he planted milkweed so he and Mary could enjoy seeing monarch butterflies all year round. They also loved purchasing art on cruises and while on weekend getaways. Steve loved his art, from colorful Britto pieces to bold Yanke paintings, and even a personalized, signed drawing from his favorite artist, Peter Max.

Retirement also led Steve to his greatest passion—being Santa Claus. In 2015 he joined the Real Santas San Diego and Fraternal Order of Real Bearded Santas (FORBS). He was the #1 Santa at Grossmont Center for seven years; he got a kick out of taking photos with dogs and other pets, would play the ukulele for kids and families waiting in line, and loved seeing families bring their kids year after year.

Every year he’d participate in the Santa Special Delivery, a partnership with Breast Cancer Angels. The Real Santas would fundraise with a Chili Dinner (where he was always in charge of the baked potatoes) and volunteer Santas would deliver gifts to a family with a mother battling breast cancer. Mary would buy all the gifts on the kids’ lists, Djani would wrap the gifts, and Steven and/or Bama would play the elf as Steve delivered the presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day—even in 2022, while going through radiation and his own cancer battle.

Steve was a truly great man whose impact will be forever felt by his family, friends, and community.

To honor Steve, and in lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his name to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (https://pancan.org/).