Joel Vincent Saffer

Joel Vincent Saffer born November 16, 1941 in Queens, NY to “Harry” and “Della” Saffer. Raised with older brother David and younger sister Rosemary.  A favorite story of him as a youngster was that he wore knickers to grammar school. He enjoyed spending his time outside.  Growing up he enjoyed fast cars. His family moved several times farther and farther out on Long Island. After high school he served his country in the US Army and was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska for Glacier training and later sent to Vietnam early in the war.  It is reported he was a good letter writer. After the Army Joel served with the City of New York Police Department in mid-town Manhattan and Times Square. Also during this time he raised a family, went to College and worked for the family business, PC Richard and Sons. He divorced and moved to Florida in 1983 where he went to work at the Happiest Place on Earth, Walt Disney World, in Security.  He was an Investigator and Security Escort to the who’s who of Hollywood: Michael J Fox, Dolly Parton, Princess Diana, Dan Marino, John Travolta, Burt Reynolds and Loni Anderson to name a few.  Joel became the Security Motor Patrol at Caribbean Beach for 12 years. He met his future wife Amy Schmidt in 2002. During this time he was a gentleman farmer with 11 horses on 13 acres . He enjoyed bass fishing. In 2004 after 21 years with the Mouse, Joel retired, Amy quit, they got married and loaded up in a 38 foot motorhome to discover the vast wonders of America. They went to Acadia National Park in Maine, and the following year The Grand Canyon, where they found it was expensive to travel that way. For 6 summers they were work-kampers at Asheville East KOA, exploring the area like a local and making lifelong friends along the way. During the winter months they enjoyed living in the heart of the Ocala National Forest, hosting friends on their spacious porch, hiking and driving the Jeep on the forest dirt roads.  He joined the community Golf league.  Joel was an avid outdoorsman, he spent several winter seasons deer hunting at his Sister and Brother in Laws cabin in South Carolina.  Joel and Amy were able to take her mother Judy to several National Parks; The Grand Canyon, The Grand Tetons, Yellowstone and on their own marveled at Glacier National Park.  Other favorite vacation destinations were cruises and the beach.  Joel let Amy listen to her heart and spent 4 summers at Bryce Canyon National Park where he worked as a horseback guide and later an ATV guide at Ruby’s Inn, gathering more lifelong friends along the way.  In 2019 they moved closer to take care of Amy’s Mom and Joel settled into quiet retirement.  He enjoyed watching Nascar and The Ohio State University football team. On June 3, 2025 Joel peacefully passed away in their home.  He will be cremated and later the family will hold a small tribute to his life.