George Gaffos

George Gaffos PORTSMOUTH - George Gaffos passed away peacefully with dignity and grace, Sept. 9, 2009, in his home, with his loving family at his side. He was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church and a man of deep and abiding Christian faith who believed in the extraordinary power of daily prayer. Born Jan. 14, 1934, and raised in Olde Towne, Portsmouth, he lived there for 65 years, restoring a 250-year-old house, where he and his wife raised their family until they moved to Sterling Point in 1998. There, he loved his garden and the migrating wildlife on the lake. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, Portsmouth, in 1952, then served honorably in the United States Air Force. He attended Tidewater Community College and was an alumni of Western Kentucky University. George was always a people-person and his winning personality and strong work ethics served him well in a distinguished business career of 31 years that brought him many national honors with B.F. Goodrich Co., from which he retired in 1990. Along with his brother, Anthony, he owned and operated The Olde Towne Inn Restaurant, Olde Towne in the 1960s. George was a sports enthusiast, having played football, basketball and had a special love of tennis, which he still actively engaged in weekly, especially with his two grandsons. He looked forward to the camaraderie shared with old friends and fellow jocks at the Grid Iron Club gatherings each month in Churchland. He loved to travel, particularly through Europe, but his favorite vacations were the family ones throughout his married life to his beloved Marco Island. "Cruising" often with dear friends, Jessel, Leon and Tommy and their wives was a wonderful part of his retirement years. George will best be remembered for his joy of life, his ever present smile, his marvelous sense of humor and his complete devotion to his family. His life was an admirable example of unconditional love given as a husband, father, grandfather and friend. He was preceded in death by his parents: father, Antonios Gaffos and mother, Helen Kady Gaffos; sisters, Alice Gaffos and Helen G. Bowers; and a brother, Anthony Gaffos. Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 48 years, Mary Alice Newton Gaffos; two daughters, Sabrina G. Coleman and husband Spencer, Andrea G. Osborne and husband Milan; four precious grandchildren, Sierra and Skylar Coleman, Sheldon and Clayton Osborne, who were adored by their "Papou"; one sister, Irene Whitfield and husband Ben; one brother, James Gaffos and wife Debbie; and many other extended relatives who will always remember how much fun he was to be with. A celebration of George's life and Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 14, by the Rev. Michael Boehling, in St. Paul's Catholic Church, Portsmouth. Burial will be in Olive Branch Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, at Baker-Foster Funeral Home, Bennett's Creek Chapel, 5685 Lee Farm Lane, Suffolk. In loving memory, memorial donations may be made to St. Paul's Catholic Church, Restoration Fund, 518 High St., Portsmouth, VA 23704. For those who would truly like to donate in George's name, the "Gift of Life", a unit of blood, please contact your local American Red Cross Blood Bank for information. God Bless. Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.