Obituary for Robert "Bob" Gaffney
Robert “Bob” Gaffney, 76, passed away on March 21st, 2020, at home in Mt. Lebanon with his family. He is survived by his wife Liana (Vaira), with whom he enjoyed more than 51 years of marriage, children Rachel (Andy) and Adam (Leigh-Anne), and Adam’s children Grayson, Dylan, and Ansleigh Gaffney. Born in Cumberland, Maryland, to James T. and Virginia L. (Wolford) Gaffney, he is also survived by his sister, Carol Ann Gaffney, who still lives in Cumberland.
Those who knew him will remember his sense of humor and appreciation for life and loved ones. Bob joked about inventing fantastical stories of his accomplishments for his obituary (“astronaut who pioneered space travel”), but as his family and friends know, no exaggeration is necessary to describe him because he was truly an exceptional individual. He was a talented and humble athlete, reticent to be recognized for his achievements: he excelled at playing football (named to the All-Maryland team in his senior year of high school and then winning a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh), and he played golf like a pro (twice hitting holes-in-one, while managing to make those stylish golf outfits look both sporting and debonair). In his culinary wisdom, cheeseburgers were renamed “nature’s most perfect food,” and who could argue with that? Banking was his profession (achieving leadership honors in each organization), but his true talent at work and in life was nurturing people to be and do their best. He will be missed by all of those whose lives he touched. Please visit the online Book of Memories to share stories and messages, and donations in his memory can be made to your favorite charitable organization.
Those who knew him will remember his sense of humor and appreciation for life and loved ones. Bob joked about inventing fantastical stories of his accomplishments for his obituary (“astronaut who pioneered space travel”), but as his family and friends know, no exaggeration is necessary to describe him because he was truly an exceptional individual. He was a talented and humble athlete, reticent to be recognized for his achievements: he excelled at playing football (named to the All-Maryland team in his senior year of high school and then winning a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh), and he played golf like a pro (twice hitting holes-in-one, while managing to make those stylish golf outfits look both sporting and debonair). In his culinary wisdom, cheeseburgers were renamed “nature’s most perfect food,” and who could argue with that? Banking was his profession (achieving leadership honors in each organization), but his true talent at work and in life was nurturing people to be and do their best. He will be missed by all of those whose lives he touched. Please visit the online Book of Memories to share stories and messages, and donations in his memory can be made to your favorite charitable organization.