For the Schaefers of Lansing, Michigan, Marquette and its School of Dentistry are a family affair that spans three generations.
“As a kid, I knew of Marquette through its football games against Michigan State,” says family patriarch Richard. A product of Catholic education, he gives credit to his father as the inspiration that ignited the family trend. “My dad was in the shoe business and had a great belief in the power of higher education,” he says.
After hearing a high school career-day presentation about dentistry, Richard decided to pursue it himself and graduated in 1964 from Marquette’s dental school. “My dad was so proud,” he recalls, joking that his father thought the Jesuits walked on water.
He also remembers the intense dental workload. “All your classmates were in the trenches with you,” he says. Richard’s post-graduation career started with two years as a US Army dentist, where he experienced great patriotism and instant feedback on the value of his Marquette education while working alongside about forty other dentists.
After his time in the Army, he returned to Lansing and, in 1966, began a private practice now known as The Schaefer Dental Group, with his son and fellow Marquette dental alumnus, Patrick, joining him and eventually taking over the practice.
The Schaefers joke that, upon his retirement, Richard offered the practice’s then-building to Patrick who said, “Dad, I don’t think this will be big enough.” Patrick’s prediction proved accurate as the practice grew to eight locations with 17 dentists — one of the largest in Michigan. Along the way, the family has welcomed a number of Marquette and other practicing relatives.
“It’s been amazing to watch how the practice has grown since its roots,” says Richard, who also taught at the local dental hygiene school during his career.
Being the difference: dental style
Patrick Schaefer sees their success as tied directly to the family’s belief and commitment to giving back. “As a practice, we work with charities in the community and, each year, we select 10 local families to help at Thanksgiving and another 10 at Christmas,” he says. “It’s a great way to share this attitude of involvement and giving back with our staff as well.”
Throughout the practice’s growth, Patrick and Richard have welcomed young people to shadow in the office before they go off to dental school — several have since returned to the practice as fully-fledged dentists. The same holds true for mentoring their peers. Patrick makes a habit of helping dentists establish their own practices as partnerships with The Schaefer Dental Group.
“Our experience at Marquette is the foundational component of our family’s success after graduation,” Patrick says.
“Now we’re attentive to how we can give back," he adds, "whether to Marquette or in our Michigan communities.”
He recalls the strong relationships with his dental classmates and undergrad friends — some of whom he still sees when he returns to campus for Briggs and Al’s Run in the fall or for a quick stop at the Dental School.
Beyond dentistry, Richard’s daughter, Stacey, graduated from Marquette in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts. “I will always remember the beauty of St. Joan of Arc Chapel and the countless hours I spent studying or throwing a frisbee on the lawn in front of Lalumiere,” she says. “Every part of these experiences was drenched in Midwest welcoming hospitality.”
She also appreciated the smaller class sizes and the ability to work one-on-one with professors.
Honoring a legacy, for future generations
Now, the Schaefers are living out their dental leadership in a new way through the Walter R. & Roseann D. Schaefer Dental School Scholarship to support Marquette dental students from Michigan. 
“We wanted to do something special for Marquette that would most directly impact students,” Richard says. “Our goal is to enhance the opportunity for capable, quality individuals to pursue dental school without the burden of a big tuition bill.”
The fund name encompasses not only the three generations of current Marquette dentists in the family, but also Richard’s parents.
“Our family has always tried to pay it forward,” he says. “My father’s fervor and appreciation for the role education played in our lives was so instrumental in changing our trajectory. I feel it is his legacy, not mine, and it’s a satisfying feeling to know we’re making a difference that will continue on.”
The support also helps strengthen the local talent pipeline for dental caregivers.
“There’s always room for another good dentist! I can’t imagine a more rewarding field of helping people,” Richard says.
Stacey sees the family scholarship fitting perfectly with the values she learned growing up. “My parents instilled in me and my brothers the importance of remembering ‘you did not get here on your own.’ It is the community and family that are a part of our own successes. With this in mind, we give back to those around us while honoring the ones who came before us,” she says.
Continuing the tradition
For the Schaefers, the best news is that the family’s Marquette story is ongoing. In May, third-generation Marquette Dental student Carly Schaefer crossed the stage with plans to start her post-graduation dental career in Austin, Texas.
“My parents and Marquette University School of Dentistry made me what I am today,” Richard says. “I think my son, Patrick, and my granddaughter, Carly, would say the same. Marquette shaped my character in terms of empathy and my care for patients. It gave me an opportunity to do what I loved for more than 30 years.”
So, will there be a fourth generation of Schaefers at Marquette School of Dentistry? “Time will tell,” Richard smiles.
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