By Keith Gushard
12/18/06
December 18, 2006 02:29 pm
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The spirit of a man like Gov. Raymond P. Shafer who was dedicated to his family and public service will live on, the Rev. Terry A. Clark told the Shafer family as the late governor was laid to rest Sunday at Saint John’s Cemetery in Union Township.
“Though we will depart in sorrow, we will not depart in despair,” Clark said, reflecting on the governor’s life and many accomplishments. “He had lived well, left the world a better place and looked for the best in other people.”
The Meadville resident was Pennsylvania’s governor from 1967 to 1971. He was 89 when he died Tuesday at Meadville Medical Center from congestive heart failure.
The former governor’s burial was given full military honors by the Pennsylvania State Police Honor Guard.
Seven state police riflemen each fired a three-volley salute in Shafer’s honor followed by a bugler playing “Taps.” A bagpiper then played “Amazing Grace” to close out the service.
At funeral services earlier in the day at Allegheny College — Shafer’s alma mater — some 200 friends and family members gathered in the school’s Ford Chapel to honor Shafer. He was hailed as a visionary for Pennsylvania who also was devoted to his family.
Former Pennsylvania governors William Scranton — whom Shafer served as lieutenant governor, Richard Thornburgh and Tom Ridge were among those attending Sunday’s service at Ford Chapel. Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll and Pennsylvania State Treasurer and U.S. Senator-elect Bob Casey Jr. also attended.
Gov. Ed Rendell traveled to Meadville Saturday, visiting privately with the Shafer family during calling hours at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home.
Family members who spoke at Sunday’s service called Gov. Shafer beloved.
“Anyone who is loved is beautiful,” R. Philip Shafer Jr., the governor’s son, said, his voice filling with emotion. “My father was a beautiful man ... He loved and was loved by his family.”
Paul (Pete) Shafer, the governor’s nephew, said “He always was so generous and loving to his family. He loved not only being a father, being a grandfather and a great-grandfather.”
The governor always included the entire Shafer family in his discussions of family, Paul (Pete) Shafer said.
Hugh E. Flaherty, who was Secretary of Legislation and Public Affairs during the Shafer administration, delivered the eulogy calling the governor a “strong, rare leader.”
He pointed out Shafer advocated and provided high support for and reform of public education, growth in higher education, and the establishment of new state departments of environmental protection and transportation. Shafer also oversaw a state constitutional convention that updated the Pennsylvania Constitution, reforming and unifying the judiciary, modernizing financial and governance structure and streamlining local government.
However, it wasn’t always easy, Flaherty said, and Shafer was willing to risk political capital to move Pennsylvania forward.
“Gov. Shafer would open my office door when things got tough and say ‘Don’t worry, Hugh, everything’s going to be all right.’ He was an incurable optimist,” Flaherty said.
“It wasn’t until just a few years ago that he confessed his optimism was always conditional,” Flaherty continued. “He told me that at the end of saying ‘Don’t worry, Hugh, everything’s going to be all right,’ he added under his breath, “if God be willing’.”
At the core of Gov. Shafer’s character was respect, integrity, fairness, honor and courage, according to Flaherty.
“He believed individual initiative, personal responsibility and moderation were the keys to a good life,” Flaherty said. “The result was a good man, husband, father, friend, student, war hero, and a strong, rare leader of this community, this state and nation.”
Shafer’s political career began in 1948 when he was elected Crawford County District Attorney. He was elected Pennsylvania state Senator in 1958 and then in 1962 was elected lieutenant governor with William Scranton elected as governor. In 1966, Shafer successfully ran for governor, taking office in January 1967 and serving until 1971.
Shafer continued on in public life following his service as governor in many ways. He served, for example, as chairman of the National Committee on Drug Abuse under former President Richard Nixon in 1972 and as chief counsel to Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller from 1974 to 1975. He later was chairman of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations from 1982 to 1992.
A 1938 magna cum laude graduate of Allegheny with bachelor of science degrees in history and political science, he served as president of Allegheny College in 1985-86 and as a trustee of the college for 40 years.
At Sunday’s service, Richard Cook, Allegheny College’s president called Shafer “an extraordinary talent.”
“Simply put, he excelled at everything he did,” Cook said. “Allegheny has lost its favorite son.”
Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com
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