03/30/2026
BATH, NY, Billy Schaffer 58, left this earth on Friday February 27, 2026 in his hometown of Bath, NY in much the same way as he came: with both his feet and on his own terms.
Born in Bath to the late Phyllis "Flip" Ferris and William Schaffer, Billy appropriately shared a birthday with both Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin as each, in their own way, left a mark on history (Billy would argue that the New York State department of corrections still count). Like his birthday counterparts, Billy was never afraid to challenge the status quo and lived unapologetically as himself. He was predeceased by his parents, his little sister Jackie Schaffer, and his little brother Danny Ferris.
Billy married young and gave the conventional life a fair try, but it was never quite the right fit. Instead, he spent many years running his own landscaping business in Richmond Virginia, using his love for the outdoors and the satisfaction of working with his hands to the fullest advantage. His customers appreciated not only the work he did, but the man himself who approached every day with enthusiasm and his willingness to give it his all. Of course, at other times you could find him in the less-than-legal sale of various commodities up and down the Eastern seaboard. he loved the sun and firmly believed everything looked better with a tan, especially himself. His bargain shopping abilities were legendary; Billy had an uncanny knack for walking away with a buy one get one free deal simply by "taking the free one." He was blunt, stubborn, and often difficult, with a special talent for getting under people's skin (especially his mother and sister's) and he rarely missed an opportunity to do so.
Despite his penchant for hitting nerves, family and holidays held a special place in his heart. He valued gatherings, shared meals, and the familiar comfort of being surrounded by those who knew him best. Beneath his large and gruff exterior was a deeply sensitive soul.
Billy inherited his love for the Buffalo Bills from his mother, though he never got to see them win a Superbowl. Hunting with his family was a favorite pastime, often leading to hijinks with his brother and cousins. Music was as essential to him as breathing. He loved turning his knowledge of music into a game, challenging anyone within earshot to music trivia and usually walking away the victor. The only real competition he had was with his little sister, Jackie, though he would never have admitted it. Billy also shared every chapter of his life with his big sister, Michelle. To him, she was everything at once: a second mother, therapist, nurse, best friend, and biggest adversary all wrapped into one.
Though he enjoyed the holidays and familiar affairs, Billy wasn't always around for them. He came and went as he pleased, living a life that was unpredictable and unmistakably his own.
Despite the friction he sometimes caused and the distances he kept, he remained a constant-if not complicated-figure in his family's story.
Billy once managed to check himself into a psychiatric ward only to attempt (and succeed) a dramatic exit minutes later through the front tempered-glass window, insisting "the shrinks were in on it too." Stories like these ensured that Billy was not easily forgotten. He will be sorely missed by the judges, district attorneys, local precincts, and the guards at his home away from home, but none will miss him more than his big sister, Michelle.
Billy is also survived by his nieces and nephews: Brett Schaffer (Reagan Ball), Brittiny Blodgett, Kristopher Schaffer, Alicia (Kevin) Gallagher, and niece Nicole Jimerson, along with 7 great-nieces and nephews.
In keeping with Billy's spirit, a celebration of life will be announced and held at a later date-when the sun can shine on everyone's face, a cold drink can be in everyone's hand, and wet bathing suits cling long after a day in the water, right up until the bonfire is lit.
Billy lived loudly, stubbornly, and entirely on his own terms. Love him or hate him, we won't soon forget him. And those who knew him will carry his legacy for years to come.
