Roger James Schifferli

Roger Schifferli died peacefully on October 11, 2023, after a long illness. He led a full life, and he leaves a legacy of a loving family and a successful career.
Roger was born on New Year’s Eve, 1930, in Rochester, New York, to Leo M. Schifferli and Clara Mayer. He married his college sweetheart, Patricia (Pat) nee Adams, sixty-eight years ago. They had six children, who have parented nine grandchildren. Roger was a loving and caring father and grandfather who delighted in celebrating his family.
Roger had a long and successful career as a fund-raising strategist. After his Army service, he was tapped for his first job by the president of his alma mater, who asked him to take the position of alumni secretary at Assumption University of Windsor. He continued a career as a development officer in academe at Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Trinity College in Washington, and Loyola College in Baltimore.
In 1979, Roger joined John Grenzebach and Associates as a consultant. His first assignment was to manage Auburn University’s capital campaign. After that success, he was the consultant for Indiana University’s major gifts campaign, and then assumed the same role at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.
By the time that campaign was successfully completed, fund-raising had shifted from resident consultants to shorter term advisors. When one of Roger’s prospective clients was the Basketball Hall of Fame, Pat checked out Springfield as their possible next move. She found a house with a view on Wilbraham Mountain, and they spent twenty happy years there as Roger wound down his career. He continued to serve clients nationwide, consulting with the University of Oregon, Iowa State University, the Houston Symphony and many others
By 2014, both Roger and Pat recognized that their hilltop home was becoming too much for them. After considerable research, they chose Reeds Landing as their independent living community, and reserved a cottage. Two years later, in 2016, they were able to move in.
Roger was a man of many talents. Sometimes major family events inspired him to write commemorative verses. He loved being outdoors, working in the garden, sailing and hiking. On walks, he picked up stones, shells, and driftwood that he fashioned into unique pieces of art. He crafted furniture that is still in use today, and he carved beautifully finished abstract birds that still grace the cottage. His most absorbing hobby was the crafting of exquisite model sailing vessels. He took great pride in making every detail authentic, acquiring an impressive library and an array of precision tools.
He followed sports to the very end. He loved football, and he preferred women’s basketball, with which he could identify, to men’s, which featured super athletes. He watched golf and tennis, and when really desperate, baseball.
His family will miss him very much. The two eldest were daughters, Mary, who predeceased Roger during the Year of Covid, and Laura Gill, wife of Skip and mother of Alex. The eldest of the four sons is Jay, whose wife is Mary Eigel. They have three children, A. J. Kate and Tom. Next is Thomas, who is married to Julie Rebholz; they have three daughters, Annika, Serena and Naomi. James, aka Sailor is unattached. Mark and his wife Kim have daughter Aurora and son Toby.
Roger’s Green Burial will be private. Wilbraham Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.