Thomas Sheaffer (1939-2022)
It is with great sadness that I share the news that my father, Thomas Sheaffer, passed away on Friday, November 11. He was 83.
Tom was born in Philadelphia and attended Cornell University where he studied architecture. He moved to Boston and received his master’s degree in Urban Studies from Boston University. He worked as an architect for 37 years, and was notably the project architect of the Whitehead Institute, a major center for genome research.
He adored classic cars and was a long-time member of the Yankee chapter of the Lambda Car Club. He bought his first classic car, a 1955 Windsor Convertible in 1998 and loved to take it to car shows. Or just drive around in it, garnering admiring looks and comments!
He played the piano and loved classical music. He was a big supporter of the South Florida Symphony. On occasion he hosted visiting pianists from the symphony in his home and delighted in hearing them play his Steinway grand piano.
He moved to Fort Lauderdale in 2008 and was thrilled to never live through another New England winter! I loved to call him during a snowstorm so he could gloat about the warm and sunny Florida weather. He found a wonderful community of friends through the Pride Center, the POZ group and through his work with the World Aids Museum, of which he was the founding secretary.
He is survived by myself, his son Eben Sheaffer, his granddaughter, and his former wife Karen Sheaffer. We will be holding his funeral in Pennsylvania, where he wished to be buried.
I am very grateful to Steve and the POZ group for all of the friendship and support through the years. It meant so much to my Dad. We are planning to have a celebration of his life here in Fort Lauderdale. I hope that those of you who were friends of my Dad will be able to come and share some good memories with us. I’ll let Steve know our plans when we have them.
My Dad was a smart, generous, talented, kind and thoughtful guy. And a wonderful dad. I will miss him dearly.
Inga Sheaffer
POZitive Attitudes 
Tom was one great man. Will miss him!