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Adolf A. Paier Jr.

Adolf A. Paier Jr., formerly of Penn Valley, passed away on Oct. 5 at Beaumont at Bryn Mawr, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, from unexpected heart failure. “Dolf,” as he was known to friends and family, was 83 years old. He was born in Branford, to the late Adolf Sr. and Margaret (née Almondo). He is survived by his beloved wife Geraldine (née Shnakis); his children, Nate (Elin) and Andrew (Barbara); his grandchildren: Gabriel, Penleigh, Joseph and Caitlin; and his older brother Saule Paier; and younger sister Dorothy Sheldon.

Dolf was a highly successful businessman. After receiving his associate’s degree from Quinnipiac College in 1958, he then graduated with honors from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. He first worked as an audit manager at Touche Ross in Philadelphia and obtained his CPA in 1963. In 1967, he joined Safeguard Industries. Rising through the ranks, he became and served as the president and chief operating officer of Safeguard Scientifics, a New York Stock Exchange listed company, from 1980 to 1992. During his tenure as president, Safeguard increased its revenues by more than tenfold. After Safeguard, he served as chairman and CEO of Healthworks Alliance until the company was acquired in 2005. Thereafter, he was CEO of Novus Corporation. Dolf also served on the board of numerous companies including Deltapaper, Analytical Graphics, Probari, and Privakey.

Dolf believed strongly in giving back to his community and supporting good causes. He was generous with his time serving on nonprofit boards including the University of Arts, Philadelphia, the Lincoln Center for Family and Youth, and the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. As a resident of Beaumont at Bryn Mawr, he served in a leadership role as chair of the finance committee for six years.

As a family man, Dolf was kind, loving, and generous. He and his wife, Gerri, had just celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. His heart was broken when his only daughter, Alena, passed away in 2016, from cancer at the age of 43. He greatly cared for and supported his immediate and extended family. He loved to take trips with his family, especially skiing in the winter, and spent many a summer with them at their vacation home in Avalon.

Friends and colleagues describe Dolf as “one of the good guys” who engaged with people around him with integrity, honesty, intellect and wisdom, with many considering him as a wonderful human being and a dear friend. After induction into the Young Presidents Organization, he built lifelong friendships and associations over the last four decades, especially with those in the Philadelphia area. He and his wife enjoyed trips with the group including overseas excursions to France, Japan, China, and South Africa.

A keen athlete, Dolf played high school football on both the offensive and defensive teams. As a younger man, he enjoyed tennis, downhill skiing, running, and exercise of many kinds. Later in life he became an avid golfer and enjoyed the trap and skeet shooting season. He was a member of the Philadelphia Country Club and the Ventana Canyon Golf Club in Tucson, Arizona, where he loved to play golf and served as the golf chairman at both institutions. He was also a devoted fan to the Philadelphia Eagles, Flyers, Sixers, and Phillies.,

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the University of the Arts, Attn: Andrew Pack, 320 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19102 or online at www.uarts.edu/donate.