Obituary

Thomas Gaffney, age 85, passed away on Saturday, January 5, 2019. Tom was born and raised in Boston and had lived in Weymouth for over 50 years. He graduated from Boston College High School in 1952 and received a BS in Journalism from Boston University in 1958. He worked in the advertising industry for over 35 years and was a lecturer of Marketing and Advertising at Northeastern University.

Tom had a deep appreciation for music, literature, poetry, theatre, boating and a good Western. His love for classical music began at the age of 16 when Tom began working as an usher at Boston Symphony Hall, where he met great friends who introduced him to his future wife. Tom had a passion for the written word and classic literature. He was a man of letters and wrote with a creative flair and wry sense of humor. He took enormous pride in giving people tours aboard his 1960 wooden Bristol around Stage Harbor and Oyster River in Chatham.

Tom was the devoted husband of the late Christine (Busalacchi) Gaffney who passed away in May. Tom and Christine were married for almost 60 years, sharing their mutual love of family and faith. Tom is survived by his loving children, Robert Gaffney of Weymouth, Anthony Gaffney and his wife Lauren of Randolph, NJ, Gina Doherty and her husband Brian of Braintree, Maria Rice and her husband Keith of Marshfield, Anita Joyce and her husband Jeremy of Westford and Noelle Low and her husband Evan of Plymouth and the late Leo Gaffney. Loving “Grandpa” to Penelope, Johnny, Spencer, Theodore, Jeremiah, Thomas, Joseph and Margaret. He also leaves several nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to visiting hours for Tom on Wednesday, January 9 from 5-8pm in the C. C. Shepherd Funeral Home located at 134 Pleasant St. (Columbian Sq.) S. Weymouth. Relatives and friends will meet for Funeral Mass at St. Francis Xavier Church in S. Weymouth on Thursday at 10am. Memorial contributions may be made in Tom’s memory to MUSIC & MEMORY® at www.musicandmemory.org. Music & Memory helps people in nursing homes and other care organizations who suffer from a wide range of cognitive and physical challenges to find renewed meaning and connection in their lives through the gift of personalized music.

Directions to Funeral Home