Carl Shaifer, a longtime Chestnut Hill resident known for his business acumen and tireless community service, died March 5 of age-related causes at Keystone Hospice in Wyndmoor. He was 92, just weeks shy of his 93rd birthday on April 15.
For over four decades, Shaifer was a fixture in the community, serving as a Springside School trustee, leading the Chestnut Hill Rotary, and actively supporting the Chestnut Hill Conservancy among his many civic contributions.
"Dad's mind was still there, but his body gave out," said his son, Stephen, last week. "He cared desperately for this community."
Professionally, Shaifer led the Winchell Company for many years, building it into Philadelphia's largest commercial printer with more than 450 employees. Under his leadership, the company—which occupies eight floors at 1315 Cherry Street—secured printing contracts with major organizations including Vanguard, the National Education Association, Mack Trucks, Lee Tires, and the University of Pennsylvania.
He also worked for The Hirshorn Company, a Chestnut Hill business that provided banking, investment and insurance services for 55 years.
Shaifer grew up in Upper Montclair, New Jersey, and graduated from Princeton University, where he was on the wrestling team alongside future Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. He then earned his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, which brought him to Philadelphia permanently.
In the late 1950s, Shaifer met his future wife, Kathy, on a blind date while both were working for IBM. They married at the Plymouth Meeting Friends Meetinghouse and later taught Sunday School together at Summit Presbyterian Church in West Mt. Airy. Their 63-year marriage ended when Kathy, who had served as executive director of the Chestnut Hill Conservancy, died on January 19, 2023, after a brief battle with lung cancer. She was 88.
Together, the couple raised six children: Stephen, John, Peter, Andrew, Katie, and Mary. At one time, all six children attended Penn Charter School. Their son Peter became a two-time national wrestling champion at Penn Charter, while Andrew pursued a career in Hollywood as a writer, producer, and actor—at one point sharing an apartment with Adam Sandler.
"Our home was open to all," Stephen recalled. "We had divorced people who had left their houses, and they stayed with us for months. I can't remember not having people there. The house was always open for anyone who wanted dinner. There was always laughter and music in that house."
Following his father's death, Stephen shared a touching detail about their family traditions: "Peter and I had a toast to him with Peppermint Patties and Coke Zero. Dad always had those two."
When I started working at the Local in 1995, I often noticed a man who would visit the office periodically. He would chat warmly with staff, compliment articles, and generally spread goodwill. After several encounters, I asked then-editor Marie Jones about him.
"Oh, that's Carl Shaifer," she explained. "He has lived in Chestnut Hill for about 40 years. He is a very successful businessman and a very active volunteer with several nonprofits in the community. He just really cares about everything in Chestnut Hill and is always upbeat. He is a real Chestnut Hill hero."
Over the years, I had numerous pleasant conversations with Shaifer about the community, but he never mentioned his impressive accomplishments. His son Stephen confirmed this humility: "Dad was humble and self-deprecating. We didn't even know about the wrestling. He'd talk about our prowess but not his own."
Stephen also shared an anecdote that revealed another dimension of his father: "He dated legendary golfer Arnold Palmer's wife, Winnie, before Palmer did. All she talked about to our dad was a previous boyfriend, Dixie Carlyle. Dad said she used him to get to Arnie."
Despite his demanding business responsibilities, Shaifer remained deeply involved in his children's lives. "The remarkable thing is that even though he had to spend so much time on business, Dad was still active in all of our athletic and theatrical lives," Stephen said. "He never missed a meal or any event of the six kids. He'd leave work to come to our events in the afternoon, then have dinner and then go back downtown to work."
After Kathy's passing, Carl reflected on their marriage: "Kathy was so honest, tough and very smart. It was a joy to be married for 63 years to this marvelous person. I certainly did not deserve it. I am a very lucky guy, and our kids were very lucky."
In addition to his six children, Shaifer is survived by 13 grandchildren, three daughters-in-law—Linda, Elizabeth and Amy Shaifer—a son-in-law, Christopher Murphy, and significant others, Adam Morrow and Tracey Wolfson, as well as two great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at Summit Presbyterian Church in April, with the exact date to be announced. Those wishing to attend should contact the church for details. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Summit Presbyterian Church, 6757 Greene St., Philadelphia, PA 19119.
Len Lear can be reached at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com
