Deaf Jessup pianist with cerebral palsy shows she's 'beyond what you see'

Nov. 26--Marcia Shaffer became the role model she wanted.

The lifelong Jessup resident had many people to look up to while growing up, but no one was quite like her. Deaf and with athetoid cerebral palsy, Shaffer faced adversity in her life from people who didn't believe in her potential.

"I want to show people to look past the way someone looks," said the 65-year-old, sitting at the piano in her Midvalley home. "People assume so many things about me based on my appearance. I want to prove to people I am beyond what you see."

Music comes naturally to Shaffer, a classically trained piano player who had her first lesson at age 6. Though deaf, Shaffer can feel vibrations through the piano and detect pitch and rhythm based on that. Next weekend, on Sunday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m., Shaffer will share her talents alongside fellow musician Ron Stabinsky during a holiday piano duet recital at Century Club of Scranton, 612 Jefferson Ave. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. Shaffer and Stabinsky will take turns soloing and then perform some tunes together.

"We go way back," Shaffer said of Stabinsky, adding he also studied under instructor Anne Vanko Liva. "I'm looking forward to it. I can't wait to play on that (Steinway concert) grand piano."

Dottie Bosley, past Century Club president who is still involved with activities there, met Shaffer years ago and always admired her spirit and disposition.

"She always just has a smile on her face, and she is so inspirational," Bosley said, adding she has seen Shaffer perform several times throughout the area. "I thought she was amazing then and still think she is amazing now."

Music always surrounded the Shaffer family. Her mom, the late Margaret Killiany, played live piano along with silent movies at local theaters. Her dad, the late Stephen, would sit at the family piano on Sunday nights and play and sing along with Shaffer; her mom and her brother, Stephen Jr.

"We had a really nice time," Shaffer said. "Really happy memories."

After her brother began taking piano lessons and showing her some exercises, Shaffer began her own lessons with instructor Anne Vanko Liva.

"She was a great teacher," Shaffer said, adding that she studied with many expert teachers in the area who helped her hone her skills. "I learned so much from her. (Liva) would have the other students teach me because she felt that would help them be better players, too."

Shaffer's mother tried to enroll her in a special-needs school as a child but was told she didn't qualify. Shaffer instead attended a Catholic elementary school in her hometown, which she said was tough, but it became easier once she started high school at Bishop Hannan. There, she started to work with a speech therapist who helped her develop communication skills from speech to interaction and expressive language. She also helped Shaffer learn to read lips face-on and from the side.

After high school, Shaffer pursued a bachelor's degree in sociology and biology from East Stroudsburg State College. She worked hard but still faced resistance because of her disabilities.

"I had a professor tell me, 'You will never amount to anything,'" Shaffer said. "That made me want to work twice as hard to prove him, and anyone else that ever doubted me, wrong."

Shaffer went on to earn a master's degree in teaching from Marywood University and spent time in the classroom. Today, she is a library clerk at Marywood.

Because of her cerebral palsy, Shaffer has difficulty controlling her muscle tone. Piano lessons, especially those early on with Liva, helped Shaffer gain control of her hands and fingers. Today, Shaffer, who wears hearing aids in both ears, attends physical therapy to boost her mobility and strength, and occupational therapy to improve her fine motor skills.

She still finds music to be the most therapeutic.

"It calms me down, and it really soothes me," she said. "I am so lucky to even be able to play music, with my cerebral palsy. It feels so good to play music."

Music has remained the part of her life she most enjoys. Shaffer earned accolades throughout her career, including a spot with the Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and many regional solo performances and recitals with fellow musicians.

Shaffer believes society's views on people with disabilities are moving in the right direction. With television characters such as "The Good Doctor's" Shaun Murphy, a surgical resident with autism and savant syndrome, and "America's Got Talent" singer and finalist Mandy Harvey, who is deaf, Shaffer sees more people like her in the spotlight. It's about time to see people with disabilities portrayed for what they can do rather than what they can't, she said.

"It's time we started to give people with disabilities a chance," Shaffer added. "You will be surprised with what they can do beyond your first judgements. I am living proof."

Contact the writer: gmazur@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9127; @gmazurTT on Twitter

Meet Marcia Shaffer

Residence: Jessup

Family: The daughter of the late Margaret and Stephen Killiany, Shaffer has a husband of 42 years, George, and two children, Barbara and Eddie. She also has a brother, Stephen Killiany Jr.

Education and employment: A graduate of Bishop Hannan High School, Shaffer earned a bachelor's degree in biology and sociology from East Stroudsburg State College and a master's degree in teaching from Marywood University. She is a library clerk at Marywood.

If you go

What: Holiday piano duet with Marcia Shaffer and Ron Stabinsky

When: Sunday, Dec. 3,

2 p.m.

Where: Century Club of Scranton, 612 Jefferson Ave.

Details: There is no admission fee, but donations are accepted. For more information, call the office at 570-342-0204.

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