“I can honestly say that I looked forward to going to work each day,” alleges Stephen (Steve)  Schaefer. And while the passage of time may have, in his mind, evened out the peaks and valleys of his career, one finds the statement to be quite believable.

Born in Flint, Michigan, but raised in the Birmingham suburb of Detroit, Steve knew from an early age that he wanted to be an actor. So he naturally participated in his high school plays, and continued that aspiration in college - 2 years at the University of Michigan, and then two years at Ithaca College, a school well renowned in the liberal arts. And then, off to New York to become an actor!

Except, fate stepped in, in that way that fate often does. Steve’s mom became ill, and he was needed back home to assist with her care. So, back to Michigan it was. And, with professional acting jobs being scarce in the Wolverine State, he was relegated to finding employment with Young and Rubicam, an advertising agency.

After the eventual passing of his mother, Steve was able to initiate a transfer to Young and Rubicam in New York, for round two of The Dream. A promotion to the casting department (selecting talent for commercials and other productions) put him closer to the action, and he soon began to call acquaintances made while at Ithaca for auditions. His first successful casting was placing a friend in a Ruffles commercial, and thus began an incredible string of successful selections.

Do you remember the jingle “I’m a Pepper, he’s a Pepper, she’s a Pepper, we’re a Pepper, wouldn’t you like to be a Pepper, too? Steve cast that commercial. He cast a Johnson’s Baby Shampoo commercial starring then unknown actress Brooke Shields. And he was even able to revive his own acting career in a McDonalds commercial, although his character was overshadowed by some clown.

And then, he became aware of auditions for “A Chorus Line.” Realizing that his only chance of success was to go “all in,” he quit his job, dusted off his tap shoes, and began preparing for an audition in earnest.

Except, fate intervened again. Steve’s father died, and with his death Steve lost the emotional support that he had enjoyed for virtually his entire life to that point. An ensuing reevaluation of his goals reminded him that he really enjoyed casting, leading to a resumption of that career at SSC&B, a company for which he eventually became vice president.

You may recall some more of the campaigns which he orchestrated; if not, you’ll certainly recognize those cast. Do you remember Alec Baldwin in Noxzema commercials? How about Cheryl Tiegs and Christie Brinkley for Cover Girl? My name-dropping is limited by available space, but you get my drift - Steve was one heckuva talent scout!

Now, this may sound glamorous to the majority of us, but there could be mundane moments, as well. Who knows how many hopefuls were interviewed before the selection of just-off-the-farm Tom Wopat to hawk Johnson's Baby Shampoo? (by this time Brooke Shields had moved on.) And in order to launch a successful campaign for Johnson and Johnson diapers, one must select the most camera-worthy baby from literally hundreds of young hopefuls (or, at least, hopeful moms!) “Casting baby butts can be quite tedious!” Steve declared, with the credibility of one who has been there, done that. And the post-audition cleanup could be decidedly unglamorous.

And then “luck shined on me” says Steve, when he received a job offer from Donna DeSeta Casting, a premier independent casting company. While there, the office cast over 10,000 jobs, including a Joe Pytka directed commercial that won a daytime Emmy, featuring Jane Goodall. Donna DeSeta Casting also cast jobs for directors Wes Anderson and Jim Sheridan, among others. And everyone in the agency knew that Melania Knauss had the “it” factor, although no one predicted her eventual occupation of the White House.

The agency was located 20 blocks north of the World Trade Center, and Steve was working on September 11, 2001, when the world changed forever. He recalls throngs of people walking past, covered in ash. “That day brought out the best in every New Yorker you ever saw.” He and the rest of the staff spent the day offering assistance to each passerby, such as water, bathroom use, etc.

When retirement finally beckoned, it was Naples that initially answered the call. Steve recalls a particularly fortuitous luncheon encounter, however, when he was introduced to fellow Naples resident Candy Gody. He became friends with Candy and her husband Tony, who eventually moved here to Pelican Preserve. Tragically, Tony passed, and since Candy knew that Steve was looking for a 55+ community, she offered to share her home with him. ”We’ve been living here as best friends ever since!” Steve proudly exclaims.

“I am exactly where I want to be,” says Steve. “I’ve met so many nice people!” Steve especially enjoys his two mile morning walk, and cares daily for his impressive collection of orchids. And in this show called “Life,” he feels that he has been cast in the role of a lifetime!