Robert “Bob” Schaefer, former speaker of the Washington House and recipient of the Clark County First Citizen Award, died over the weekend at the age of 91.
Schaefer is survived by his wife of 68 years, Sally, two children, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. There will be a service and reception for Schaefer at 11 a.m. March 19 at Church of the Good Shepherd, 805 S.E. Ellsworth Road.
“He will truly be missed and remembered by his family,” Sally Schaefer said. “He was very much loved.”
Schaefer was born in Seattle on April 19, 1930, and raised by his adoptive family in Clark County, where he attended Arnada, Shumway and Vancouver High schools. When Schaefer attended college, he was initially on track to study business but redirected his trajectory to pursue law instead — an area where his father, uncle, grandfather and great-grandfather showed much success.
The degree change seemed to be a better match, as Schaefer excelled at Willamette Law School and graduated in 1955. He joined the bar that same year and soon served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps at Fort Greely in Alaska. After Schaefer’s service, he eventually moved back to Washington to work for the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office and was met with an exciting endeavor.
As a young attorney, Schaefer was invited to work on a broader level at the state’s capital. He served four terms in the Legislature from 1959 to 1967 — ending his career as the second-youngest speaker of the House.
Schaefer lobbied for legislation that contributed to the economic growth of Southwest Washington, including attracting semiconductor company WaferTech to Camas and keeping high-tech manufacturer SEH America in Vancouver.
His legislative work also entailed the successful acquisition of land for Battle Ground Lake and Paradise Point state parks. Even after Schaefer’s departure from the Legislature, he spearheaded efforts to resolve issues facing Vancouver.
Schaefer continued his public service work as he helped raise his three children. He practiced law at a private firm, all while being a community leader in various organizations, including St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
Brian Wolfe, Schaefer’s law partner since 1992, said his political astuteness and drive to support Southwest Washington’s economic growth was nothing short of influential.
“I wanted to emulate him, but no one can emulate Bob Schaefer,” he said.
Schaefer’s efforts extended beyond his position as a lawyer, Wolfe said, as he involved himself in the economic development of Clark County to ensure its prosperity — earning him the title of one of the most influential people in the county in 1994 by the Columbia River Economic Development Council.
Most notably, though, Schaefer was at the forefront of bringing a branch of Washington State University to Vancouver. He and his colleagues convinced lawmakers that Southwest Washington needed a highly regarded research institution to invest in the region’s future high-tech industries.
WSU Vancouver Chancellor Mel Netzhammer said there are few people in the region who were deeply entrenched in its history like Schaefer was.
Schaefer continued to devote time to the university’s progression long after it established its roots in Vancouver, particularly as a board member for the McClaskey Foundation, a program dedicated to hospitality business management. Before Netzhammer was introduced to the attorney in 2012, he already knew the university’s presence was deeply intertwined with Schaefer’s work in the Legislature.
“Every time I met with him, he had very high expectations for WSU Vancouver,” Netzhammer said. “We work really hard to meet those expectations.”
Commitment as a public servant
Schaefer’s continuous civic involvement helped spur the creation of a tutoring and mentor company, Helping One Student to Succeed, in the 1970s and the Southwest Washington Child Care Consortium in the 1980s.
His influence can be observed in his hometown of Vancouver, but also throughout Southwest Washington. Schaefer’s community efforts earned him many accolades throughout his career — such as the 1961 State of Washington Outstanding Young Man Award or 2002 Pillar of Economic Development Award.
Among them, Schaefer was awarded the Clark County First Citizen Award in 2013 by a volunteer committee of community leaders. The recognition commemorates those in the county who dedicated their life to uplifting others through their work.
Decades prior, Sally Schaefer was honored as the county’s First Citizen in 1984 for investing time and energy to causes supporting schools, churches, the arts and a variety of social services. Together, the couple played an integral role in shaping the region’s history.
Schaefer’s grandson Robert Schaefer, a Vancouver firefighter, said seeing his grandparents’ commitment to the community inspired him to do the same. Through Schaefer’s mentorship, Robert learned the value of dedicating time and energy to others — something he continues to encourage in his own family.
“I’m thankful for all that he did in our lives,” Robert said. “I’m super proud to be his grandson.”
