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August 9, 2002/Elul 1 5762, Vol. 54, No. 47
Aging gracefully
Dancer turns 106
JESSICA BARBER
Editorial Assistant
Lenore Schaeffer, center, enjoys a dance contest at the Scottsdale Hilton July 27. Schaeffer is pictured with her granddaughter, Linda Segall-Anable, left, and her great-granddaughter, Hannah Segall.
Photo courtesy of Gene Schaeffer
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Two parties, a dance contest and out-of-town visitors recently helped Lenore Schaeffer celebrate a major milestone - her 106th birthday.
"She told everyone she didn't want any fuss and then she got all excited when it happened," says Schaeffer's son Louis. "She was thrilled."
On July 25, Schaeffer enjoyed a party at The Stratford, a retirement home in Phoenix. Guests included her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, a cousin and friends.
The celebration continued on July 26 with a party at the Sunnyslope Community Center in Phoenix.
"That was a lot of fun for her," says Louis Schaeffer.
On July 27, in front of 11 family members, Schaeffer participated in a dance contest at the Scottsdale Hilton.
According to her son, Schaeffer danced for about 30 seconds.
"For a 106-year-old, that's not bad," he says.
Schaeffer, who began taking ballroom dancing lessons at the age of 82, won competitions across the country and has been featured in the Arizona Republic, Newsweek and "NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw."
"She took lessons at a studio in Tucson and became a very good dancer," says Louis Schaeffer. "She has a whole case full of trophies."
In 1997, at the age of 101, Schaeffer danced to the tune of Kansas City on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."
In fact, Leno called to wish his former guest a happy birthday on July 24.
"(Leno) really liked her," recalls Louis Schaeffer. "They were very nice to her on that show and she did very well."
Schaeffer, originally from Chicago, has resided in the Phoenix area for about 12 years. Previously, Schaeffer and her family lived in Tucson.
While in Tucson, Schaeffer was a member of Congregation Anshei Israel. She was also involved in various Jewish organizations, including Gold Star Mothers and Jewish War Veterans, and she is a lifetime member of Hadassah.
Schaeffer has three children, eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She is a member of Beth El Congregation.
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