Larry V. Gaffin

GAFFIN Larry V. Gaffin, April 2, 1947 - June 15, 2005. Larry Gaffin, long-time servant of local and global community life, died June 15 in Seattle while under treatment for leukemia. A Quaker memorial service for Larry was held at University Friends Center June 30. Born in Columbus, Ohio, the son of Leo and Mabel Gaffin, Larry grew up on the family's flower and vegetable farm with his two sisters Linda and Diana. He graduated from Marion Franklin High School in 1965. After earning his degree in chemistry and biology at Iowa State University in 1969, Larry went on to Chicago Theological Seminary for his M. Div. degree. He served as associate pastor of 1st Congregational Church (UCC) in Walla Walla 1977-1982 and as a campus minister at Mankato State University in Minnesota 1982-1989. Believing in the spirituality of work, Larry then took over the Center for Life Decisions in Seattle, a career counseling practice established by his mentor Rev. Frank Kelsey. As of June 2004 he added the role of counselor at the Salvation Army's William Booth Center in Seattle, helping homeless veterans improve their lives and obtain stable housing. On July 11, 2004, Larry married longtime career development colleague Irene Myers in Seattle. They maintained their own separate businesses but shared values and interests. Together they co-authored a chapter in Take Back Your Time, a book that accompanies the national movement to draw attention to the issue of overwork in America. Larry was frequently out in front with adopting new ideas, e.g., seeing sustainability as the guide for setting public policy, operating a business or choosing a career. As a pastor in Walla Walla his innovative idea for giving led to a project in Central America out of which grew Peace Brigades International, a peace and human rights group which in 2001 was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Throughout his life, Larry championed the disenfranchised. As an undergraduate at Iowa State, he and a friend successfully petitioned their fraternity on the national level, against hide-bound opposition, to admit its first black member. Later he was also a strong advocate for Native American and gay and lesbian rights. He was instrumental in establishing a hygiene center in Seattle's University District and undertook a one-man street ministry for homeless people in that area. Larry was engaged in many other community-serving ventures, including 6 years running a free public job search support group, 3 years as host of a weekly Conversation Cafe, 10 years volunteering with the Adopt-a-Street program. Larry is survived by his wife, Irene Myers; sisters, Linda (Don) Thomas and Diana (Andy) King; nieces, Tammy (Steve) Marcu and Kim Thomas; nephew, Darin Kaylor; cousin, Carl Gaffin with sons, Lance and Beau. In keeping with Larry's life of service, donations in his name can be made to University Friends Meeting, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Nature Conservancy, Habitat for Humanity, Southern Poverty Law Center or Salvation Army. Cards and remembrances can be sent to Irene Myers, PO Box 9763, Seattle 98109 or Linda Thomas, 14821 Springdale Ave., Middlefield, OH 44062.