‘Salsa’ added richness to the lives of children affected by cancer

Adults stuck in the ordinary world knew her as Venice Shaffer, retired U.S. Postal Service employee. But on the far side of the Spring Mountains at a magical place called Torino Ranch, the incredible kids at Camp Firefly called her "Salsa."

She possessed the kind of ebullient spirit that drew others around her. Once they knew her, they couldn't help but call Salsa their friend.

If that sounds like the start of a children's story, I guess it is. Salsa Shaffer was devoted to kids who had endured great hardship to get to summer camp. For the past four years Shaffer was a camp counselor who ensured cancer survivors and their siblings had the times of their lives at the Torino Foundation's ranch on behalf of the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada.

On June 27, Shaffer was on her way home from finishing this year's camp when she was killed after her vehicle overturned on state Route 160. She was 56 and had been retired for about a year.

The small, close-knit community of volunteers was staggered. These people trade their given names for nicknames and exchange their vacations and free weekends to participate in the camp, which annually gives about 100 children (mine included) joyous experiences as far from the pain of hospitals and medical clinics as is humanly possible. They are great examples of the fine people who live in our beleaguered community.

Shaffer was introduced to Camp Firefly through her son, Sterling Mainwal, a veteran volunteer lifeguard known around Torino Ranch as "Silver." Although her son brought her to the camp's gate, it was the death of a sister to cancer that made Shaffer sensitive to the issues confronting those children.

She immediately knew she had come to the right place, her friends say. Shaffer became a regular and had planned to volunteer as a counselor for other charity summer camps at the ranch in Lovell Canyon.

"She was an amazing woman who had this contagious spirit about her," Candlelighters Executive Director Melissa Cipriano recalled. "She always saw the good in people. She loved being up at camp and making it a special time for the kids."

The camp schedule bustles with activity, but the counselors do more than chaperone. While some of the kids seemingly need little more than an encouraging smile, others suffer from substantial physical disabilities and must be helped from one activity to another.

They all found a pal in the vivacious Salsa.

"She was so bright and bubbly that they were just attracted to her," Torino Foundation Camp Director Kelli Walters said. "She was one of those huge, bright lights that just stands out, one of those people who would do absolutely anything for the children or for the camp."

Walters remembered the times Shaffer came to the ranch early to help get it ready for the children.

Whether preparing activities or cleaning out a cabin, she was grateful for the opportunity to serve: "There was nothing that she wouldn't do that was too big or too small. She was very, very helpful."

Cipriano added, "When she came to Camp Firefly four years ago, she just embraced it with everything she had. She made the children feel so loved and just had a blast with them. She made everyone feel so special around her."

A fund has been set up in Shaffer's son's name through the Torino Foundation (www.torinofoundation.org) and the Candlelighters office (www.
candlelightersnv.org.) Mainwal, meanwhile, will continue to donate his time each summer for the children.

Walters said, "One of the biggest gifts Venice gave us was him."

Those who met Salsa know her effervescent spirit will always be a part of Camp Firefly.

John L. Smith's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith. Smith is a member of the board of the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada.