{"id":187658,"date":"2026-04-06T21:49:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T21:49:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/187658\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T21:49:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T21:49:19","slug":"the-life-and-times-of-lois-a-schaffer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/187658\/","title":{"rendered":"The life and times of Lois A. Schaffer"},"content":{"rendered":"

At 90 years young, longtime Great Neck resident, Lois<\/a> A. Schaffer is a local treasure, a bon vivant, and a champion of human rights.<\/p>\n

That Lois!
I first met Lois in 2006, when I was running for a board of trustees seat in the Great Neck Library election in a hotly contested race. She was an integral part of a dynamic and organized group of seniors (Stan Romaine, Naomi Feldheim, Mischa Schwartz, Bobbie Zeller, Renee Zarin, and others) who helped me and my running mate get elected. Their dedication to the cause, for someone they barely knew, left a great impression on me.<\/p>\n

Recently, Lois found her way back into my home to reflect upon her life\u2019s journey. She beamed, pranced and giggled for close to two hours. Lois is quite the storyteller, and she gets her musings down in writing. Her latest book, \u201cRandom Reflections- Encounters That Shape Us and the Invisible Threads that Bind Us,\u201d is getting launched, with a book signing at the Great Neck Library on April 12, 2026, at 2 pm.\u00a0 Make sure to stop by and say hello to Lois. A future date at Theodore\u2019s Books, founded by her friend, former US Congressman, Steve Israel, is also in the works.<\/p>\n

Secret to a Good Life
Lois and her husband, David, have been living in Great Neck for over 53 years. Get this: They have known each other for close to 74 years, and married for 69, and counting. Famously, they were high school sweethearts at Jamaica High, and yes, Lois made the first move. After a group ice-skating outing with a mutual friend, she asked if she could seek an introduction, and she cheekily replied, \u201cdamned right,\u201d and never looked back.<\/p>\n

David Schaffer\u2019s name came up many times. He is a practicing attorney and sitting judge in Great Neck Estates. Per Lois, David is \u00a0\u201cunsurpassed\u201d as a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, husband and friend. As for the secret to longevity, Lois exclaimed, \u201cgood genes (Lois\u2019 mom lived to 98) and a good partner. David is the best!\u201d \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThat what you can, you do.\u201d
Aside from being a published author, Lois has seemingly done it all and met many interesting notables along the way. Her husband David was a Harvard Law school classmate of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and they became fast friends. The Schaffers have many fond memories with RBG and her \u201chysterical and brilliant\u201d husband, Marty.<\/p>\n

Back in the day, Lois was very into modern dance, with a deep appreciation of its physicality and artistry. She was led by Pearl Wiseman, an acolyte of Martha Graham. Later, Lois\u2019s nonprofit grant writing included writing proposals for the Pearl Lang Dance Foundation Inc. and supporting low-income housing for seniors. Lois also protested the Vietnam War, advocated for Nixon\u2019s impeachment, and spoke out on many other issues of the time. Great Neck\u2019s \u201cliberal\u201d European Jews at the time were in good company. Lois\u2019 advocacy turned to activism.<\/p>\n

Great Neck Through Lois\u2019s Eyes
Speaking about our town, Lois is a fan. \u201cI love it here\u201d, she winked. Her first impressions of Great Neck in the Seventies? It was very exciting, but a very swank, privileged society. \u201cRed nails, ladies who lunched and had tea\u2026\u201d Lois reminisced. She specifically recalled the cost of Franck Olivier blouses as a symbol of the pricey life, then laughed because her young granddaughter just spent a small fortune at Sephora on a recent shopping spree. Hmm, the more things change, the more they stay the same.<\/p>\n

As for the different waves of immigrants coming into our town, Lois cited the European Jews who made their way here, bringing different customs to the already-established Mayflower folks in the mid-1900s.<\/p>\n

When the Persian-Jewish \u201cinvasion\u201d arrived in the Eighties, she thought it was \u201cwonderful,\u201d but, of course, many of her peers did not. Lois says she is not one to judge and has always been open-minded about diversity. She learned that from the world of dance, and also the liberal\/ reform practice of Judaism. \u201cWe are all human beings\u201d, she said, \u201cthe same skin and bones, but we must focus on the beauty of differences.\u201d<\/p>\n

We discussed the modern tensions between \u201cliberal\u201d versus \u201ctraditional\u201d lifestyles in our town and abroad, including her visit to site of the Nova Festival in Israel, post \u2013 Oct. 7. Needless to say, we did not solve the Middle East conflict, but we made a small dent.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt comes down to understanding,\u201d she said. \u201cWe must all seek to understand each other, learn from each other.\u201d Lois has friends from all walks of life, with diverse opinions, motivations and approaches. \u201cMost people are inherently good irrespective of their ethnic background\u201d, she said.\u00a0 As with many in the tribe, Lois is a practitioner of tikkun olam, the repair of the world. One person at a time, with an open heart and a smile.<\/p>\n

Advocacy\u00a0Against\u00a0Gun\u00a0Violence
Lois became a prominent advocate against gun violence after the 1994 LIRR massacre, solidly aligning her with Carolyn McCarthy, May Neuberger and state Assembly Member Michelle Schimel who became good friends.<\/p>\n

Tragically, gun violence found the Schaffers in 2008, after the senseless murder of their 48-year-old daughter, Susan. A single mother, she interrupted a random burglary at her St. Louis residence, perpetrated by two teenagers with a stolen gun. \u00a0Susie was on the phone with her daughter Rachel, at the time, and it was her son, Daniel who discovered his mom\u2019s body.<\/p>\n

The intruders, students at Daniel\u2019s school, fled with a computer, iPod and digital camera. \u00a0A random act of violence that forever altered the Schaffers\u2019 lives, their son, Eric, and Susan\u2019s three young children.<\/p>\n

Like Lois, Susan herself was movement-oriented and trained in dance. Ultimately, Susie became certified as a Pliates and Gyrotonic instructor, of which Lois is immensely proud.<\/p>\n

To help deal with her immense grief and loss, Lois subsequently authored several books, prior to Random Reflections, including her memoir, \u201cThe\u00a0Unthinkable:\u00a0Life,\u00a0Loss,\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0Mother\u2019s\u00a0Mission\u00a0to\u00a0Ban\u00a0Illegal\u00a0Guns\u201d\u00a0and \u201cFrom Bullet to Bullhorn,\u201d \u00a0In doing so, Lois memorialized and honored Susie\u2019s life as a tribute. Hopefully, future tragedies can be avoided.<\/p>\n

\u201cEither you sink or you swim\u201d
Channeling Martha Graham, whom she met several times, it is Lois\u2019 passion that makes her a great person. Lois is a mover and a shaker, a doer with boundless grit. As Lois put it, \u00a0\u201cI focus on turning my tears into compassion and action. I kvell from making someone smile, and it gives me pleasure knowing that I\u2019m helping others.\u201d\u00a0 Amen, one thousand fold.<\/p>\n

Janet Nina Esagoff founded Destination: Great Neck Ltd. in 2021, aiming to fortify and celebrate her hometown. @greatneckbiz. In 2017, she launched Esagoff Law Group PC, with offices \u201cin town\u201d on Middle Neck Road. Prior to the law, Janet designed special\u2013occasion wear for girls\/teens at Party Girl, her Bond Street atelier.<\/p>\n

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