Edward Stoner Shaffer of Millersville, Maryland died of pancreatic cancer at home on Oct. 14, 2023. He was 80.
Edward Stoner, 80, died on Oct. 14, 2023. His memorial service will be held May 18.
Born on Nov. 20, 1942, in Pittsburgh, Ed was the son of Charles Boyd Shaffer and Mary Louise Stoner Shaffer. He grew up in Darien and was a graduate of Darien High School. He continued his education at The Johns Hopkins University where he received a B.S. in mathematics, an M.S. in applied mathematics, and an M.S. in computer science.
He began his career working as a programmer/analyst on the Apollo Space Program at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, later progressing with various NASA contractors to development, management, and maintenance of custom software projects for the capture and processing of telemetry data from manned and unmanned missions and scientific satellites.
With retirement, he revived his lifelong interest in music, singing in the choir at St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal Church and with the Washington Revels, where he performed in the Christmas Revels and with the Revels group Maritime Voices.
His love of folk music, especially music of the sea, developed in the year he spent as a teenager crewing on the brigantine Albatross on its maiden voyage through the Mediterranean, around the coast of Africa, and across the Atlantic. The story of the Albatross, which tragically sank the year after, was the subject of the 1996 film “White Squall.”
In addition to performing, he loved supporting the music activities of his children and grandchildren, as well as his favorite local professional musicians and amateur music groups.
Ed is survived by his wife of 54 years, Patricia Siegner Shaffer, of Millersville; his son, Scott Stoner Shaffer of Annapolis, Maryland; and his daughter, Ann Baxter Shaffer (John Taylor) of Eugene, Oregon. He was the proud grandfather of Max and Darcy Shaffer and Rowan Shaffer Taylor. He is also survived by his brother, William Andrew Shaffer (Ellen), two nieces and a great-niece.
A memorial service will be held at St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal Church in Severna Park, Maryland, on May 18, followed by a musical celebration of life on May 19. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to a favorite local musician or music group.
— This obituary was published by the Capital Gazette on Legacy.com, where online condolences may be left