Campus Update

(September 29, 2006)

Shaffer Memorial Service Set for Oct. 21

The University Libraries lost a beloved member of its staff when Kay L. Shaffer died Sept. 16 at Albany Medical Center Hospital. Shaffer was a librarian and bibliographer for anthropology, linguistics, Russian and East European studies, Slavic languages and literatures, and sociology. Her career at the University spanned almost 33 years.

Shaffer passed away Sept. 16 from complications of a stroke she suffered Aug. 30 just prior to attending a musical performance with two UAlbany colleagues at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

Born in Lewisburg, Pa., she earned a bachelor's degree in Russian from Pennsylvania State University and an M.L.S. from Indiana University. Prior to coming to UAlbany, she worked at the University of Cincinnati and Ohio State University. She traveled four times between 1996 and 2005 to Sofia University, Bulgaria, with the USAID program as a library specialist, developer, and cataloger. Shaffer was also nominated as State University Exchange Scholar to Moscow State University for the 1982 spring semester.

A memorial service and celebration commemorating her life will be Saturday, Oct. 21, at 2 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Albany. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Shaffer may be made to the Kay Shaffer Memorial Music Fund, c/o St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 21 Hackett Blvd., Albany, N.Y., 12208. Funds will be divided between the church and Albany Pro Musica, and may be designated for one or the other.

An active participant in the performing arts community, Shaffer was much admired for her singing with Albany Pro Musica, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, and Congregation Beth Emeth.

She is survived by her brother, Gary S. Shaffer of Norfolk, Va., and his three adult children.