Beat Paul Schaffner

Dr. Beat Paul Schaffner

Aiken, SC—A Mass of Christian Burial for Beat Paul Schaffner, age 84, will be held 11:00 am on Wednesday June 3, 2026, at Old St. Mary’s with Father Ghattas as celebrant. Final prayers and commendations will take place at Calvary Cemetery. Beat entered into rest on Wednesday May 27, 2026, at his residence. He was the beloved husband for almost 50 years to Mrs. Cecile Margaret Cleary Schaffner and a son to the late Mr. Paul Schaffner and the late Mrs. Rosa Horisberger Schaffner. Dr. Schaffner was a native of Basel, Switzerland, but had made the Aiken area his home in 1979. He earned his PhD in chemistry from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland. He came to Aiken for work at Sandoz/Clariant (serving for over 30 years), but was drawn to make Aiken his permanent home partly because of his love for horses. He loved the horse culture, riding in the woods, and even owned his own horse naming him Master Charge. He was of the Catholic faith and a member of St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church. Dr. Schaffner was a talented man, who played the violin. He loved eating in small pubs and varying restaurants in the downtown area, working out formulas, saltwater fishing, and snow skiing. In his younger years, he was very athletic, playing both soccer and tennis. Beat also enjoyed travelling across Europe. Most of all, he loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was loved by his friends and family and will be deeply missed. Additional survivors include: one son Christian (Whitney) Andrew Schaffner, Marietta, GA; one daughter Caitlin Claire Schaffner, Charleston, SC; one brother Urs (Nelly) Schaffner, Zurich, Switzerland; one sister Rita (“Richi”) Schwitter, Kaiseraugst, Switzerland; and three grandchildren Palmer Schaffner, Lawton Schaffner, and Mary Claire Schaffner. A wake will be held 6-8 pm along with the Holy Rosary at 7:30 pm with the Legion of Mary on Tuesday June 2, 2026 at COLE FUNERAL HOME 1544 UNIVERSITY PKWY (118 BYPASS) AIKEN, SC 29801 803-648-7175. Please sign the online registry at www.colefuneralhomeinc.net.