[2] Born on October 2, 1945, in Butler, Pennsylvania, Shaffer served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
[3] Elected as a Republican to the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 21st district, he served in that legislative body from 1981 to 1996.
[4] In May 2010, Shaffer was nominated by Governor Ed Rendell to serve as a judge for the Butler County Magisterial District.
[7] Shaffer owned an historic farmhouse, where he spent a significant portion of his time during his later years.
[3] He was also a vital part in the founding of the Prospect Area Preservation Society which now houses many artifacts from his life that he personally donated through his time with the organization.