[TheForge] Peter Schiffer obituary

[Grant Marcoux]

Don:  This is a real loss....the passing of someone who made a big
difference with the quality of his efforts.  The fine craftsmanship of the
books themselves, separate from the beautiful contents, was a joy to behold.

Grant

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of PlumDon at aol.com
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 8:07 AM
To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [TheForge] Peter Schiffer obituary


Some of you may recall that Peter was very supportive of blacksmithing and
metalwork and published most anything and everything that Dona Meilach
wrote.
He  was a good man and even tried to help me publish some things. The B in
Peter B. Schiffer stands for Berwind. His mother's family ran the White Coal
Co
and were among the 60 wealthiest families at the turn of the 20th c. I
believe  the Berwind mansion is still in Newport, RI. Peter also supported
metal
sculptors and had many pieces in his collection and others scattered around
his
home and buildings. Interesting guy. His home was in his huge book
warehouse.
He  used two crutche/canes but was still very adept at getting around, up
and
down  stairs, etc.

Regards
Don Plummer


Peter B. Schiffer, 60,  Chesco book publisher
By Kathleen Brady Shea
Inquirer Staff  Writer

Peter Berwind Schiffer, 60, who parlayed a family background in  farming and
antiques into a specialty publishing business, died Dec. 19 of a  heart
attack.

Mr. Schiffer, who was born in Bryn Mawr, ran Schiffer Publishing Ltd.,  a
Chester County company that "grew from the kitchen table," said his wife of
35
years, Nancy Nutt Schiffer. It began when he saw a need in the mid-1970s to
bring back some out-of-print niche books, his wife said.
"At first, we had  no idea what we were doing," Nancy Schiffer said. "We
never set out to create  the company; it just evolved."

The business, which operates from the Schiffer farm in Atglen, employs
about
25 people, Nancy Schiffer said. The books' subjects range from antiques  and
collectibles to military history, reflecting Mr. Schiffer's interests.

"As long as it was the best of what it was, that's what interested  him,"
Nancy Schiffer said.
Mr. Schiffer was a graduate of Goddard College.  He was 19 when he was hit
by
a car while changing a tire on his way to school in  Vermont, his wife said.
She said he was determined that the accident, which led  to the loss of a
leg,
would not hold him back.

"It didn't make him handicapped; it made him determined," she said.
Several years ago, her husband's quest for excellence landed the pair in a
welding class in Philadelphia because Mr. Schiffer wanted to understand the
process better.
"The quality of workmanship was so important to him," his  wife said. "He
wanted to be able to recognize it."
In addition to his wife,  he is survived by his mother, Margaret Berwind
Schiffer; a sister, Susan Berwind  Schiffer; and two sons, Herbert and
Peter.

Funeral services will be private. Donations may be made to the American
Friends Service Committee, 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia 19102, or a Quaker
meeting.

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