This article appeared in the May 29, 2003 Jewish Advocate.

Arnold Schaffer believes in both creating and preserving legacies.

By Susie Davidson

Advocate Correspondent

Whether it's counseling clients in business ventures, lending professional expertise to any of the myriad civil organizations he belongs to, celebrating the phenomenon of the seventh immediate family member graduating from the University of Rhode Island, with an eighth enrolled for this fall, or just engaging in regular walks in the Chestnut Hill/Brookline area, Schaffer has provided and enjoyed a consistent, active and dedicated model of citizenship

Schaffer's path has been one of remarkably abundant longevity. For over 40 years, the Providence native and Certified Public Accountant has served as a founding partner of the Stoughton-based Godes, Schaffer and Co., P.C. Some of his clients date back to the beginning; in some cases, he also works with third generation members of the same family. He's lived in Chestnut Hill for over 35 years and has had a winter home in Boca Raton for 20. This year will mark his 50^th wedding anniversary.

Aside from the proverbial post-high school graduation, summer cross-country auto trip with two boyhood friends, Schaffer's life has appeared to overwhelmingly reflect a highly disciplined, yet benevolent, utilitarianism. The many groups he has served, often in a major capacity, include the South Shore Chamber of Commerce, the Brookline Chamber of Commerce, the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Northeast Fabricare Association (Director), the accountant's group Practical Practitioners Forum (Chairman), Temple Emeth (longstanding member, B'nai B'rith Fabricare Lodge (President and Treasurer), Masonic Lodge's Brotherhood Lodge (Past Master and Treasurer), the University of Rhode Island Alumni Society, Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity and the Hillel Foundation. All this involvement has made him a highly acknowledged public, as well as neighborhood figure. "People will see Rhonda and I on our walks around the Reservoir, Jamaica Pond and going from Cleveland Circle to Coolidge Corner, where clients, friends and the business community seem to recognize me," said Schaffer.

"I try to always be there for family, friends and clients," he added, noting that his greatest pleasure is seeing his clients’ startup firms grow and expand. "My favorite example is a client who started out over 25 years ago with two people, who has grown to a manufacturing business of 25 employees, doing over three million dollars in sales,” he said.

Schaffer worked for many years at a Providence market while attending high school, where he was active in a fraternity and was inducted into the National Honor Society. At URI, he became a steward of Alpha Epsilon; following graduation, he worked for Mass. Mutual Life in Springfield until he moved to Boston, where he met his wife Rhonda Godes.

He studied for the C.P.A. exam at Bentley; he and Rhonda lived in Hull until they moved to Chestnut Hill in the mid-60's, where both of their daughters were bat mitzvah'd at Temple Emeth (not surprisingly, Schaffer served on the Temple's audit committee).

Elder daughter Robin kept family tradition going by graduating from URI as president of her sorority. Her husband, Robert Greenberg, also went to URI, where their daughter Allison will graduate from next May and their son Adam will begin there in September.

Younger daughter Lori, who graduated from URI and owns a retail gift and specialty store in Saxonville called Lasting Presents, has two children, Eric and Alex, with her husband Raphael Wolf. Eric will begin at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst's business college in September.

"From time to time, people have asked me when I am going to retire," sald Schaffer. "I always say that I enjoy what I do, but would like to slow down so that I can enjoy spending time with Rhonda, traveling more, and spending more time with family and friends."