Russell Kuhlman Shaffer

Russ earned his Bachelor of Arts from Brown University in 1954. He proudly served his country as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy from 1954 to 1956 sailing on the U.S.S. McNair.

On July 28, 1956, Russ married the love of his life, Leslie Van Nostrand. Together, they raised four children and built a life rich with family, community, and the outdoors at their home in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Russ earned his MBA from Harvard University in 1958 and went on to build a distinguished career in advertising, spending nearly three decades on Madison Avenue. He began at McCann-Erickson, then moved to Grey Advertising, before joining Richard K. Manoff, Inc., where he eventually rose to president of the agency. He subsequently served as president of David H. Mann, Inc., executive vice president of F.W. Free, Inc. (now Laurance, Charles & Free, Inc.), and senior vice president of SSC&B.

Russ was, above all, a devoted family man and a lifelong sportsman. He loved saltwater and freshwater fishing and spent many happy hours bird hunting alongside his beloved Brittany spaniels. He was a longtime member of the East Haddam Fishing and Game Club. An avid and competitive bridge player, he was known to play frequently during his daily commute to New York on the New Haven line. He also enjoyed many years of tennis, paddle tennis, and golf at the Old Lyme Country Club.

Ever handy and creative, Russ loved to carve birds, fix and build things, tend to his large vegetable garden and raise a variety of farm animals. He took particular joy in making his own maple syrup and pressing cider from the apple trees on his property. He served as past president of the Lyme-Old Lyme Lions Club and on the Board of the Lyme Land Conservation Trust.

Russ was predeceased by his wife, Leslie Van Nostrand Shaffer; his parents, Russell Parl Shaffer and Alice (Cole) Shaffer; and his siblings, Don Shaffer and Sally Freeman.

He is survived by his sister, Susan Miller of Westport, CT; his children, Cole V. Shaffer (Nhora) of Cumming, GA, Wendell L. Shaffer of Glen, NH, Daniel W. Shaffer (Suzanne) of Wayne, NJ, and Russell W. Shaffer (Elizabeth) of Granby, CT; and his grandchildren, Steven, Scott, Elizabeth, Matthew, Meghan, Caitlin, and James.

A private memorial service and burial will be held by the family. The Shaffer family suggests a donation in honor of Russell K. Shaffer to the Lyme Land Conservation Trust.