This article delves into the contributions of individuals like Chad Shaffer to the New Bethlehem community, while also commemorating the lives of other notable figures who have left a lasting impact.
The family of Lester A. Calhoun expressed their gratitude towards the dedicated staff of Country Springs Personal Care Home, Clarview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Sligo, and Chad Shaffer, M.D., of the ACMH Primary Care Center in New Bethlehem, for their compassionate care.
The ACMH Primary Care Center, where Dr. Shaffer practices, plays a vital role in providing healthcare services to the residents of New Bethlehem and surrounding areas.
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Remembering Other Key Figures in New Bethlehem
While this article primarily focuses on Chad Shaffer, it's important to acknowledge other individuals who have significantly contributed to the New Bethlehem community. Here are a few examples:
Lester A. Calhoun
Lester A. Calhoun, a lifelong resident of New Bethlehem, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013, at the age of 90. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. Lester was born on May 7, 1923, on the Calhoun Farm in New Bethlehem, Wayne Township, the son of the late Robert L. and Mary Pearl (Sowers) Calhoun. Lester wed Elsie Marie Ellenberger Jan. 1, 1948, and they remained married for 47 years, until Elsie lost her battle with cancer in 1995.
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Lester worked alongside his father running the Calhoun Farm, which the family started in the 1840s, until taking over the dairy operation himself in the 1960s. He took great pride in his work and was universally regarded as a role model within the region for his standards of quality, responsibility and problem solving and also for the way he merged traditional farming practices with modern innovation. A member of a number of farm-industry organizations, Lester was vice president of Division Six of the Pennsylvania Young Farmers Association in the 1960s, received the Outstanding Farmer Award in 1971 from the Greater Kittanning Jaycees and was a director of Agway. He also participated with his father and brothers in the Calhoun Dairy bottling and delivery business from the 1940s until 1966, when a fire destroyed the barn.
Among the countries they visited were England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Argentina. A man of a great many interests, Lester traveled extensively with Elsie, going on a number of foreign trips sponsored by university and farming programs. He was a voracious reader to the end and was a devoted and welcomed patron of New Bethlehem Public Library. He was noted for his generosity of time, resources and spirit and helped many in times of need. He was a lifelong supporter of Goheenville Presbyterian Church. Lester had a great respect for the animals he tended on the farm and a love for his many dogs though the years. He took very good care of the wild birds -- his birds -- that kept him company.
Lester's storytelling was legendary and all of his stories were accompanied by astute and enlightening editorializing designed to make the listener a little wiser about how the world really worked -- good or bad. Lester was greatly admired for his wit and intelligence. He brightened our lives with his unique sense of humor, which featured well-timed "zingers" delivered with his trademark sly grin.
James R. Shaffer
James R. Shaffer of New Bethlehem died January 10, 2024 at the age of 80 after a happy and full life. He was born December 30, 1943 to Lawrence and Kathryn (Kunselman) Shaffer. He married Sharon Blair on September 5, 1964 and spent the next 60 years being a loving husband. His respect and devotion toward her were always evident in the home and along their travels.
Starting as a paper boy and then in the print shop, he worked his way up at The Leader-Vindicator newspaper in New Bethlehem under the tutelage of his friend and mentor, Tom T. Andrews. His life’s work was in journalism. He always appreciated the businesses and subscribers that made the newspaper a success. He endeavored to keep it a community newspaper, recognizing its value in unifying a small town in times of crisis, like the flood of 1996, and in creating a platform for factual information and respectful discourse on controversial local topics. Using the proceeds from the paper’s flood memorial issue, he funded the town’s parklet creation beside the Sgt.
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From coaching Little League baseball for years to watching all of his sons’ and grandchildren’s events as they grew up, he was always up for a sporting event. Jim was an enthusiastic sportsman. Precious time was spent golfing, playing poker, and laughing with friends. Hunting was a passion. Over the years, he had countless hunting adventures with friends and family. Looking for deer and turkeys, sitting in a stand with a grandkid, and swapping stories with his brothers at camp were all times that he cherished. For years, Jim was a member of the New Bethlehem Masons, Lion’s Club, and Moose Lodge.
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