Leonard L. Schaefer, whose family company, Edward Schaefer and Sons, bused East Hampton children to school for decades, died on Oct. 7 at the Villa at Westhampton, an assisted living facility. He was 70 and had been ill with cancer for the past year.
Mr. Schaefer was born at Southampton Hospital on June 8, 1952, to Leonard B. Schaefer and the former Mary Thomason. He grew up in East Hampton and attended East Hampton schools, where he competed in cross-country and track. After graduation, he enlisted in the Army and was selected to train as a security agent in Augsburg, Germany.
He enjoyed living in Germany and often spoke about attending the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, his family said.
Following his discharge, he joined the family business, working with his father and his brother to provide bus service for many local school districts until 2006. He subsequently worked as a medical assistant for several doctors at what is now Stony Brook Southampton Hospital's Meeting House Lane Medical Practice in Amagansett.
Mr. Schaefer lived in East Hampton Village in a house built by his grandparents Edward and Harriet Davis Schaefer before the Depression. "He was a voracious reader, quick wit, and die-hard Yankees fan" who was "known for his good humor and joke telling," his family wrote.
He is survived by his sister, Melanie Ross of East Hampton, his brother, Russell Schaefer, also of East Hampton, two stepsisters, Marsha Roberts of California and Michele Mott of Bayville, and his stepmother, Marilyn Schaefer of Florida. He also leaves several nieces and nephews. A nephew, Peter Schaefer, died before him.
Mr. Schaefer was a volunteer with the East Hampton Village Ambulance Association and the East Hampton Fire Department. His family has suggested donations in his memory to the ambulance association, at 1 Cedar Street, East Hampton 11937, or to the Firefighters of New York State Firemen's Home, 125 Harry Howard Avenue, Hudson, N.Y. 12534.
