Longtime sports official had rich, varied life
John W. "Shaef" Schaefer spent the last 10 years of his career working as a building and zoning inspector for the village of Mundelein, and Lake County.
But it was in his duties outside the construction zone where he made a name for himself.
For nearly 40 years, Mr. Schaefer was an umpire and referee. He was involved in everything from Mundelein Little League to officiating Illinois High School Association basketball, to being a head umpire for an officiating crew that worked high school, college and semiprofessional football.
Mr. Schaefer passed away Wednesday. The longtime Mundelein resident was 90.
"He lived a long, full life," says his son, Terry Schaefer of Arlington Heights.
Norm Erickson, who now lives in Grand Rapids, Minn., estimates Mr. Schaefer worked more than 500 games between 1952 and 1992, including 336 football games they worked together as a crew.
"Shaef was the head umpire and with his boisterous voice, he kept total control of the game," Erickson says. "He had the respect of all the coaches."
They mainly worked the College Conference of Illinois, which contained Wheaton, North Central, Illinois Weslyan, Carthage and Elmhurst colleges. Mr. Schaefer also worked all of the Lake Forest College home football games, as well as North and Northwest suburban high school games.
Among his colleagues, Mr. Schaefer was known for his role helping to promote officiating through his active participation with the Northern Officials' Association.
"We met regularly to discuss the rules and review changes in the game," Erickson adds.
They also gathered every year to present the Mike Rose Award to a coach and athletic official who actively worked to support high school athletics in Illinois. Mr. Schaefer presented the award every year with NFL official Bill Swanson.
In 1977, Mr. Schaefer himself received the honor.
Mr. Schaefer was born in Chicago and originally had studied to enter religious life with the Christian Brothers. However, after serving in the Pacific during World War II with the Marines, he never returned to the idea.
Instead, after the war he found work as a dining car steward on the New York Central's 20th Century Ltd., which was dubbed "The Most Famous Train in the World."
Its express run from Chicago to New York in luxury Pullman cars pulled by a steam engine, was the preferred method of travel back in the 1940s.
Mr. Schaefer told family members stories about serving Casey Stengel and the New York Yankees, who traveled by rail to their games in Chicago, as well as many celebrities, including John Wayne.
One of his favorite stories, family members said, was the time John Wayne's wife wanted a drink on a Sunday, which back then wasn't allowed. When Mr. Schaefer was able to sneak her a drink, the Duke slipped him a $20 tip.
Among the many contacts he met on the train were executives with General Foods, which eventually landed Mr. Schaefer a job in sales, and one which he held until retiring in 1977, to work in Lake County and for the village of Mundelein.
Besides his son, Mr. Schaefer is survived by his daughters Noreen (Mike) Rankin of Princeville, IL and Joni (John) Lubrich of Spring Grove, another son, Kurt, of Mundelein, and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Mary Ann.
A funeral Mass will take place at 10 a.m. today at Santa Maria del Popolo Chapel, 116 N. Lake St. in Mundelein.