Charlie Schaeffer, retired executive editor

Charles (Charlie) P. Schaeffer, a retired executive editor at The Kiplinger Washington Editors and a 59-year member of the National Press Club, died April 5.  He was 94 and had lived in Pittsboro, N.C., after retiring from Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine. 

"He was funny, he was kind and he was a hell of a writer no matter what the assignment," said Ted Miller, former magazine editor. 

Although a specialist in health an recipient of a award from the American Heart Association, Schaeffer quickly shifted to financial issues when the magazine changed its name from Changing Times to Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine and began focusing primarily on investments. Miller said Schaeffer "was easy to editor, because there wasn't much to do and he didn't squawk at you for the little you did do to his copy."

"No description of Charlie Schaeffer would be complete without noting that he maintained the messiest desk in the building," Miller said.  "He was proud of it, and we were all proud to know him."

A native of Cumberland, Md., Schaeffer graduated from the University of Maryland and was a Navy veteran.  He worked for an aviation publication before joining Kiplinger. Kevin McCormally, a former Kiplinger editor, said Schaeffer had "an amazing ability to wrestle complex subjects into submission in order to present clear, understandable guidance to readers." 

Another Kiplinger colleague, Ed Henry, noted Schaeffer's incredible speed and access to sources.  "He could turn around an assignment in a day or two that would have taken me weeks," Henry said.  

Survivors include his wife of 69 years, Liza, a son, two daughters and eight grandchildren.  He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.