Eugene William Gaffken

Memorial visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

A funeral home service will begin at 12:00 PM.

Inurnment to follow at Saint Mary's Cemetery.

Eugene (Gene) William Gaffken, 70, of Brazil died Saturday April 8, 2023.  Born July 2, 1952 in Kingston, he was the son of the late William E. Gaffken and Mary T. (Martin) Gaffken and adopted son of the late Katharine L. Gaffken-Durkin.

Gene attended The Peddie School, a private college preparatory school in Hightstown, New Jersey and graduated in 1970.  Before attending Syracuse University, he joined the Cultural Affairs Institute from Santa Barbara, CA on an archaeological study throughout Greece and the Aegean.  He then transferred from Syracuse University to Brown University where he graduated in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Archaeology.

After graduating from Brown University, Gene traveled and worked as a tour guide for several luxury travel companies before settling in Honolulu, Hawaii. Gene had many friends around the world which was the catalyst for him to leave Hawaii and live abroad. He moved to Rio de Janerio, Brazil in 1988 where he lived until events in 1996 led him to relocate to Paris, France.  He often said his time in Paris were some of the best years of his life.  He eventually decided to move back to Rio de Janeiro in 2011 and enjoyed traveling and visiting friends and family in the United States and Europe.  Whether meeting his family for dinner in Barcelona, or touring schools in Haiti with the late Father Bohnen of the Salesian Missions, Gene lived an interesting and varied life.

Eugene is survived by his brother John Gaffken and his wife Terry of Hurley; sister Mary Jane Sullivan and her husband Richard of Voorheesville; his Aunt Patricia Schuler of Boca Grande, FL; niece Kara Augustine (George); nephew William Gaffken (Mackenzie); Carina Benson, Bryan Weaver, two great-nephews, several cousins, and many friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Salesian Missions, 2 Lefevre Lane, New Rochelle, New York, 10801 or www.salesianmissions.org.