Richard J. Gaffney

Richard J. Gaffney, 88, formerly of Niskayuna, died February 19 in Lebanon, NH. Born in Philadelphia, a son of Harry and Jean McLean Gaffney, Dick is survived by his wife Susan (Karutis) Gaffney, son Nicholas (Emma Wunsch), and granddaughters Georgia and Dahlia, all of Lebanon, NH; daughter Maria of Hovland, MN; also brother Michael K. Gaffney (Janet) and sister-in-law Nancy Gaffney, of Huntingdon Valley, PA. He leaves cousins, many nieces and nephews, and many friends.

Dick met Susan in a graduate philosophy seminar in 1964. They were married for 56 years. They'd lived in Niskayuna and Keene Valley NY, and spent 11 years in New York City. They moved to the Woodlands in Lebanon, NH, in January, to be near family.

Dick was a graduate of St. Joseph's College in Philadelphia, held a Master's degree from Villanova University and a PhD from Boston College. He taught philosophy and logic at Villanova, Boston College, and for the last 23 years of his academic career at Siena College in Loudonville, NY.

Before he taught at Siena, he spent four years in the business world, at the Pepsi Cola Schenectady Bottling Corp. That experience gave him new insights as he resumed teaching philosophy. His philosophical interests were logic and the history of logic, Aristotle, and Ludwig Wittgenstein.

In his later years he was a founding member of the Hudson-Adirondack Daylily Society, grew beautiful day lilies and hosta, and wrote several (unpublished) mystery novels and stories. He never lost his curiosity about people or his zest for life. He was a runner, and an Adirondack 46er #4548, finishing on Skylight as he turned 65, with the help of his son and his good friend Graham Holmes. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease 4 1/2 years ago, but still walked in Central Park regularly, and loved his Dance for PD class in New York.

A memorial mass will be celebrated at noon on Saturday March 4, at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel at Siena College.

Contributions in Dick's memory can be sent to Siena College, or to Families First in Essex County, Elizabethtown, NY.

To leave a message of remembrance or condolence, please visit the online guestbook at www.rickerfuneralhome.com.