Senior Stars Roberta and Dr. Everett (Doc) W. Schaeffer

Senior Stars Roberta and Dr. Everett (Doc) W. Schaeffer are honored by UK Sanders-Brown Center of Aging's Foundation.

"Papa Doc" Schaeffer is still active in his community and well- loved by many in Berea. A native of Peoria, Ill., Schaeffer graduated from the University of Illinois Medical School in Chicago. He is married to Roberta who also is still active and they have four children.

After serving as a medic in the U.S. Army during World War II, Schaeffer was a practicing physician for or 51 years. He was the first and only physician for Red Bird Mission Hospital in Beverly, Ky. After retiring from Red Bird where he served patients for 38 years, Schaeffer became the director of Berea College Health Services until 1994.

He has been a member and board member of Body Recall, Inc., a nationally known fitness program, for over 26 years and exercises three times a week. Schaeffer also volunteers at St. Joseph Hospital-Berea and started a community recycling program in which he continues to be active throughout the community.    

According to Jeff Rubin, executive director of Body Recall, Inc., and one of the nominators, "Doc and Beverly continue to demonstrate what is possible for health and wellness at any age in a variety of venues all across the country. They attribute their longevity and quality of life to muscle strength, flexibility, range of motion and sustaining energy levels. They give hands-on examples getting down on the floor and lifting themselves back onto a chair without any help.

"As a former medical practitioner, Doc also provides assistance by donating outdated medical equipment to foreign countries. As a member of the men's group at Berea United Methodist Church, he provides assistance to widows, the sick, and the poor by doing yard work, sending cards for special events and encouragement, and makes visits to see church members who are hospitalized."