The Rev. Leah K. Schafer died on March 1, 2021, in Berryville, Virginia where she was staying while on medical leave. Pastor Schafer was born September 6, 1960 at Fort Ord, California. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Kalamazoo College in 1982, and her Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut in 1986. She was ordained on July 20, 1986, at Christ Lutheran Church in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. In 1999, Pastor Schafer received a Doctor of Divinity degree from the Catholic University of America.
Pastor Schafer served Christ Lutheran Church in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey (1986-1989), St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Washington DC (1989-1993), St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Springfield, Virginia (1993-2004), Hope Lutheran in Annandale, Virginia (2004-2006), and Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Fairfax, Virginia (2006-2008). After transferring to the Northeastern Ohio Synod, she served St. Jacob's Lutheran Church in Canton from 2008-2018, and then served as interim pastor to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Canton until she went on medical leave in late 2020.
She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. Art Cubbon (d. 2014). She is survived by her mother, Marilyn Schafer; daughters Rachel Fredrickson (Robin), Erin Balloue (James); granddaughters Adeline and Raelyn Balloue; stepdaughter Katie Cubbon and stepson Arthur Cubbon III; sister Lori Pierce (Bob) and brother David Debono Schafer (Diane).
A memorial service will be held at a later date. The family is asking that people help celebrate Pastor Schafer's life by writing a letter describing their favorite memory of Pastor Schafer and sending that, and/or photos of Pastor Schafer, to her granddaughters Adeline and Raelyn Balloue, c/o 12173 Harry Byrd Hwy, Berryville, VA 22611.
