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Cannie Crysler Shafer passed away from metastatic colon cancer on June 7, 2026 at the age of 70 while traveling with her family in Norway. From a young age, Cannie was a curious and eager learner who loved to read and travel the world. She enjoyed museums, live music, observing nature, and being a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Always eager to spend time with family, as an adult she learned to ski, golf, and bird. She was a devoted mother; ever proud, supportive, and available to her two children’s achievements and challenges. Becoming a grandparent this past year was one of her greatest joys. Cannie graduated from The Shipley School, received a B.A. in art history and sociology as a three-sport varsity athlete at Sweet Briar College (SBC). Her achievements as a student-athlete saw her inducted into SBC’s hall of fame and inspired the creation of The Crysler Award, given to a four-year athlete for “continuous commitment, sportsmanship, and achievement in sport.” Cannie also earned an M.A in educational administration from Villanova University in the midst of her 47 year career as an educator and administrator. She held leadership positions at Episcopal Academy (EA), Germantown Academy, Girard College, and St. Peter’s School. Cannie’s career began at EA as a fifth grade teacher who helped start the girls’ athletic program, coaching varsity lacrosse and field hockey among other sports. She was a founding member of the Philadelphia Girls Inter-Academic Athletic League. She spent 17 years as the Lower School principal of the Devon Campus before culminating her time at EA as the Assistant Head of School. Cannie worked for 40 summers at Camp Susquehannock in Brackney, PA, before retiring as Co-Director with her husband Win. She helped launch Camp Susquehannock for Girls in 1986 as the Program Director. She loved spending summers at camp in northeastern Pennsylvania and end-of-summer retreats to their family home on Squam Lake in New Hampshire. Cannie served on the boards of Church Farm School, Crossroads School, and St. Peter’s School, and was dedicated to mentoring education administration graduate students at the University of Pennsylvania. Throughout her career she was active with the National Association of Independent Schools, Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools, an officer and two-term national president of the Assistant Heads Association, and a member of PAIS/Middle States accreditation teams. Cannie never fully retired, she continued to teach, mentor, connect, and advocate for children and educators until the very end. Cannie was a lifelong member of The Church of the Redeemer, where she served on the Vestry, was a lay minister, and worked actively to support the church’s charitable endeavors. She is survived by her husband Edwin H. Shafer Jr., daughter Frances G. Shafer (Matthew S. Ciambriello), son Blake B. Shafer (Hannah M. Black, fiancée), and her beloved grandson Wesley R. Shafer Ciambriello. She is also survived by her mother-in-law Anne D. Shafer and her sister Sophia C. Hart (Richard J. Hadley Jr.). Cannie was preceded in death by her parents, Rosemary G. Crysler and Edwin W. Crysler Jr., and her half-brother Curtis C. Crysler. A funeral service will be held at The Church of the Redeemer on Saturday, July 11, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. (230 Pennswood Road, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010). Friends and family are invited to a reception lunch following the service. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in Cannie’s name to Sweet Briar College. www.https://www.sbc.edu/

Tributes

Cannie Crysler Shafer

March 10, 1956 - June 7, 2026