Dr. Frederick Vail Schaefer, Ph.D.

Dr. Frederick "Fred" Vail Schaefer, Ph.D. passed away Monday, March 2, 2015 at Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa. He was born May 25, 1949 in Ft. Dix, New Jersey. He graduated from high school in Oxon Hill, Maryland in 1967and furthered his education by earning a BS degree in Microbiology from the University of Maryland. Fred earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from North Carolina State University and his postdoctoral fellowship at Fox Chase Cancer Center. He married his best friend Cheryl Dennison on September 5, 1969 in Oxon Hill. They came to Tulsa in the fall of 1983 so he could work with Dr. Burhan Say and became director of the newly formed Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at the H.A. Chapman Institute for Medical Genetics at Children's Medical Center. The laboratory became part of Hillcrest Medical Center in 2000 and in 2004 became the Center for Genetics at Saint Francis Hospital. Dr. Schaefer was dedicated to the success of his laboratory and the welfare of his staff.

Fred was an Eagle Scout and adult leader of Boyscout Troop 945 in Tulsa. He loved photography, oil painting, and traveling to tropical destinations such as Mexico, Belize, and Hawaii as well other countries such as Chile, Sardinia, and Portugal. Fred taught white water canoeing while he lived in North Carolina and was also a certified NAUI scuba diver. He and his wife Cheryl taught the Kindergarten Sunday School Class at All Souls Unitarian Church for over 25 years. Fred will be missed by so many friends, colleagues, family, and children whom cared for him dearly.

Fred was preceded in death by his mother: Mary Eleanor (Jeter) Schaefer. He is survived by his wife: Cheryl Schaefer; his son: Kyle Schaefer and his fiance Kristin; his father John Frederick Schaefer :his brothers: Bruce Schaefer and his fiance Missy, and Robert Schaefer and his wife Shannon; his sister: Paula Wilson and her husband Jim; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be directed to National Public Radio, The Nature Conservancy, The American Cancer Society, and/or the Tulsa Public Library.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Christopher W. Teel of Schaudt-Teel Funeral Service at Memorial Park. Visitation is scheduled for 6:00 - 7:00 PM Thursday and a funeral ceremony 2:00 PM Friday both at Schaudt-Teel Funeral Service at Memorial Park, 5757 S. Memorial Drive in Tulsa. Interment and a reception will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Share memories of Fred at www.tulsafuneral.com.