Chuck Shafer was my best friend in High School. At that time he went by the name "Chick" Shafer. I guess he later opted for "Chuck". I can see why. He and I had many great adventures while in High School. We frequently visited a lakeside campground near Lake Erie. Perhaps our greatest adventure came during our senior year. Our school had canceled the so-called "senior trip" to Washington D.C. because of the expense and also because some previous attendees mis-behaved so Chuck and I decided we would take our own senior trip. We went to New York City. I drove. I remember to this day emering from the Lincoln Tunnel into Manhattan at age 17 when the legal driving age in New York was 18. We had a crazy good time including a visit to the famous Peppermint Lounge where we saw one of the British rock bands beginning to perform in the U.S. in what was known as the British invasion. I cannot remember the name of the band, perhaps the Rolling Stones or the Kinks. In order to protect the Chuck's and my reputation I will not go into any more details. After graduation I left Vandalia and my connection to Chuck essentially ended. He would email me on birthdays and such and I did the same to him until our communication ended about 30 years ago. He was a really good guy, fun-loving, loyal, and friendly to everyone. I suspect he left behind a family with those same values.
Rick Marshment
Chuck Shafer was my best friend in High School. At that time he went by the name "Chick" Shafer. I guess he later opted for "Chuck". I can see why. He and I had many great adventures while in High School. We frequently visited a lakeside campground near Lake Erie. Perhaps our greatest adventure came during our senior year. Our school had canceled the so-called "senior trip" to Washington D.C. because of the expense and also because some previous attendees mis-behaved so Chuck and I decided we would take our own senior trip. We went to New York City. I drove. I remember to this day emering from the Lincoln Tunnel into Manhattan at age 17 when the legal driving age in New York was 18. We had a crazy good time including a visit to the famous Peppermint Lounge where we saw one of the British rock bands beginning to perform in the U.S. in what was known as the British invasion. I cannot remember the name of the band, perhaps the Rolling Stones or the Kinks. In order to protect the Chuck's and my reputation I will not go into any more details. After graduation I left Vandalia and my connection to Chuck essentially ended. He would email me on birthdays and such and I did the same to him until our communication ended about 30 years ago. He was a really good guy, fun-loving, loyal, and friendly to everyone. I suspect he left behind a family with those same values.