Frances Jane Shaffer, M.D.

F. JANE SHAFFER, M.D.

Doctor Frances Jane Shaffer, M.D., age 95 of Toronto, OH passed away Thursday, September 29, 2016 at the O.S.U. Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH. She was born November 3, 1920 in Cuyahoga Falls, OH the daughter of the late Irwin and Hazel (Bentley) Shaffer.

Dr. Jane served as an Elder and Deacon at First Presbyterian Church of Toronto where she was a member.  She also served on several committees, volunteered for countless activities, sang in the choir for 60 years and played in the church bell choir.

Dr. Jane was a 1937 graduate of Toronto High School, a member of the Alumni Association and an Alumni Hall of Fame inductee. She received her Bachelor's degree at University of California, Berkley in 1941 and her M.D. from University of California, San Francisco in 1943.  Her internships were at University of Rochester Strong Memorial Hospital in New York with residencies at University of California Lakeside Hospital, Case Western in Cleveland and Permanente Foundation in Oakland California.  In 1948, Dr. Jane accepted her first job at the Well Baby Clinic in Vallejo, California.  In 1950 she returned home to Toronto and began her family practice, caring for many generations of families.  Dr. Shaffer brought hundreds of babies into the world until 1988, but continued practicing at Ohio Valley Hospital, St. Johns, Gill and Trinity Medical Centers in Steubenville. She was the Chief of Staff at Ohio Valley Hospital in 1957 and 1987 and Chair of Department of medicine in 1955 and 1960.  Although Dr. Jane retired from her practice in 2007 she spent her life continuing to care for others.

Dr. Jane's resume also includes: Woman of the Year Trinity Health Systems; Medical Director Toronto City Health Department, developing the Well Baby Clinic; Traveling to Guatemala, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic with Brothers, Brothers foundation to help immunize children; sponsoring the Doctor's Dollies girls softball team in Toronto.

Dr. Jane was a member of the Toronto City School Board of Education for 20 years and was a representative for Toronto on the Jefferson County Joint Vocational school district Board of Education.  She was the physician for the Toronto School Systems until the 2012-2013 school year and served on the Board of Mental Retardation from 1967-1981. During this time Bright Promise and residential homes were built with the Shaffer Plaza being named in her honor.  Dr. Jane was inducted into the Lou Holz Upper Ohio Valley Hall of fame and was honored for 50 + years of service/practice by the Jefferson County Medical Society.

Dr. Jane was preceded in death by her parents, Irwin  Shaffer in 1946 and Hazel (Bentley) Shaffer in 1955; husband, Darwin Hartwell in 1998 whom she married March 7, 1992; brothers, Richard, John and Ben Shaffer; sister, Myra Barlow and niece Myra Shaffer.

Dr. Jane is survived by her nieces and nephews, John (Ginger) Shaffer of Cleveland, TN, Jan (Ed) McEllroy of Erie, PA, Jack (Yvonne) Shaffer of Loves Park, Il, Robert (Michiko) Barlow of Annandale, VA, David (Carol) Barlow of St. Clairsville, OH, Richard Barlow of Parkville, MD, Emily (Jeff) Webb of Gahanna, OH, Sarah Shaffer of Columbus, OH and Fred (Roxanne) Shaffer of Lewis Center, OH; several great nieces and nephews ; sister-in-law, Jane Shaffer of Columbus, OH  along with many devoted friends and former patients that she served with compassion and caring.

Friends and family will gather for Dr. Jane's visitation 2-4 and 6-8 Friday, October 7th at the First Presbyterian Church, 116 N. Third St., Toronto, OH. Additional visitation hours for Dr. Jane will be held from 9 A.M. to 10:45 A.M. Saturday, October 8th at the First Presbyterian Church.

An Elder service will be held 7:30 P.M. Friday at the church.

A celebration service of Dr. Jane's life will be held 11 A.M. Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church with the Reverend Tyler Bayless officiating. Interment will be held at the Toronto Union Cemetery at a later date at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to: First Presbyterian Church 116 N. Third St. Toronto, OH 43964, Toronto High school Alumni Association, scholarship fund 102 N. Third St. Toronto, Oh 43964, Ohio Valley Health Center(Jefferson County Fourth St. Health Center) 1 Ross Park Blvd.#202 Steubenville, OH 43962

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