After a long and productive life devoted to law, education, business, philanthrophy, and public service, Raymond Shafer died on December 12, 2006, at the age of 89 years. Governor Shafer had suffered particularly ill health after being left partially paralyzed by a stroke in 2003, and died of complications from congestive heart failure at Meadville Medical Center.

Funeral services were held on Sunday, December 17, 2006, at Ford Chapel, Allegheny College. In attendance were former Pennsylvania governors William Scranton, Richard Thornburgh, and Tom Ridge, Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll, and Pennsylvania State Treasurer and U.S. Senator-elect Bob Casey Jr. Shafer was interred at St. John's Cemetery, Union Township, Crawford County. The former governor’s burial was given full military honors by the Pennsylvania State Police Honor Guard.

GOVERNOR SHAFER DAY at ALLEGHENY COLLEGE

On Saturday, Feburary 14, 2004, Ray Shafer's achievements at Allegheny College were recognized when he became the first athlete in the College's history to have his number retired. During the ceremony, Governor Shafer was presented with a shadowbox containing a replica of the #24 men's basketball jersey that he wore when he was a student athlete in the 1930's. G Shafer achieved his stunning scholar-athletic record at a time when the division classification did not exist in collegiate athletics. Governor Shafer is the first athlete in the College's history to have his number retired. He was also inducted into the Verizon Academic All-America Hall of Fame® in 2002.

Read the Allegheny College press release