Obituary for Henry Michael Gaffney
Henry Michael Gaffney, 75, of Vernon, CT., passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021 after a brief illness. Henry – “Hank” to his family and friends – is survived by his beloved wife of 24 years Doreen; sons Michael and his wife Leah, Daniel and his wife Rosemary, Christopher and his wife Jenny, Jason and his wife Veronica and Joseph and his wife Nicole; 10 grandkids; and many siblings, nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his parents Henry Michael Gaffney and Veronica (Hughes) Gaffney, sister Kathleen (Gaffney) Chapman and his in-laws who he thought the world of, Jack and Doris Blatchford. Hank grew up in the Bronx and spent some of his happiest times at his family’s house on Knollwood Beach in Huntington, Long Island. After catching the eye of a military recruiter who spotted him beating up hippie war protesters, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of 19. He served in the Vietnam War, receiving an honorable discharge after one tour of duty. He was very proud of his military service, although his feelings about the administration tasked with removing troops from Vietnam were more nuanced. Hank returned stateside with new perspective and a renewed dedication to his schoolwork and career, earning a BS degree in economics at the City University of New York.
A dedicated manager who earned the respect and admiration of co-workers, Hank held several positions in New York City and Connecticut at the Travelers Insurance Co. Responsibilities at Travelers included the adjustment and supervision of workers compensation claims and he served as the workers compensation claim unit manager in the Hartford field office from 1982 to 1997. Hank joined the Connecticut State Treasury Department in 1998 as the claims unit manager for the Second Injury Fund a position he held until his well-deserved retirement in 2021.
Hank enjoyed nothing more than spending time with family. He was a devoted husband to Doreen and dedicated father to his five sons, always looking forward to the annual trip to Cape Cod surrounded by loved ones where he regaled anyone who would listen to his (sometimes too long) stories that showcased his sharp wit and dry sense of humor. Easygoing by nature, Hank was a great role model to his children and grandkids in how he treated others with respect and worked tirelessly to provide for his family. As hard as he worked, he always found time when his boys were growing up to attend their baseball, basketball and hockey games – without fail. Plans to retire were pushed off each year until to Doreen’s delight he finally called it a career last February. In his downtime he could often be found watching an episode of PTI or turning on CNN while he relaxed on the recliner. He died with a better head of hair than several of his sons, much to their dismay.
A dedicated manager who earned the respect and admiration of co-workers, Hank held several positions in New York City and Connecticut at the Travelers Insurance Co. Responsibilities at Travelers included the adjustment and supervision of workers compensation claims and he served as the workers compensation claim unit manager in the Hartford field office from 1982 to 1997. Hank joined the Connecticut State Treasury Department in 1998 as the claims unit manager for the Second Injury Fund a position he held until his well-deserved retirement in 2021.
Hank enjoyed nothing more than spending time with family. He was a devoted husband to Doreen and dedicated father to his five sons, always looking forward to the annual trip to Cape Cod surrounded by loved ones where he regaled anyone who would listen to his (sometimes too long) stories that showcased his sharp wit and dry sense of humor. Easygoing by nature, Hank was a great role model to his children and grandkids in how he treated others with respect and worked tirelessly to provide for his family. As hard as he worked, he always found time when his boys were growing up to attend their baseball, basketball and hockey games – without fail. Plans to retire were pushed off each year until to Doreen’s delight he finally called it a career last February. In his downtime he could often be found watching an episode of PTI or turning on CNN while he relaxed on the recliner. He died with a better head of hair than several of his sons, much to their dismay.