Alan James Gaffey
Jan 19, 1961 - Mar 20, 2022
Alan James Gaffey, 61,
died unexpectedly last night, March 20, 2022
at Oneida Hospital from difficulty breathing, internal bleeding,
lung and bone cancer and a heart attack. Although he was a resident
in the adjoining extended care facility for the last two years, his decline from
stable to critical to dead happened suddenly within the span of two days.
Born January 19th, 1961 to William and Joanne Dunn Gaffey of Rome, NY.
Alan married Mary Nasci of Rome on October 4th, 1980.
They had five children Louis, Theresa, Alan, Jason and Tiffany.
Al's marriage didn't survive the 1990s, but he was a caring father for life.
Al was a bit of a dare devil and good time Charlie most of his life.
Some might say he was irrationally brave. He did roof work on St Mary's Church
steeple and other high risk low reward jobs that most people would shy away from.
He also wrecked his fair share of cars and dumped his motorcycle a few times.
By the time Al was 40 he was fairly busted up, with a metal rod serving for part of his
right leg. He suffered from seizures and depression. He smoked and drank. He self-medicated.
By the time Al was 60, his ailments and life style took his independence.
We are grateful to staff at Oneida Health Rehabilitation & Extended Care (shout out to Mary)
for the excellent care they provided Alan. They treated Al well and he appreciated that.
Growing Up.
Even though they butted heads a lot, Alan was the most like dad - fearless, willful and occasionally hot tempered.
Al was the only one of us who wasn't afraid of dad, Al even gave dad a black eye once.
I thought he was crazy but I admired his courage.
Alan loved music, animals, his family and friends. He was a good cook and good company.
Al was a risk taker; he ventured furthest from home living for most of the 1980s in Florida;
also made stops in Connecicut and Washington state. For the last 30 years Al found his way back to
Rome NY and surrounding communities (Holland Patent).
Alan was predeceased by his father, and his daughter Theresa
She died far too young at the age of 25 in 2007.
Her passing weighed heavily on Alan.
He is survived by his three sons,
Alan Jr resides in Utica, NY
Louis and Jason are in Florida.
Also in Florida is daughter Tiffany, recently married to Evan Sawada.
Alan is also survived by by his mother, Joanne Gaffey of Empeyville, NY
and siblings Bill (Jo Ann) of Taberg,
Virginia (Carne) Hall and Jeff (Dana) Gaffey of Florence, NY
and John (Ludmila) Gaffey of Albany, NY
A private service will be held Wednesday, March 23rd for immediate family only.