Robert Douglas Gaffney, 81, of Severna Park, died of natural causes June 10 at Parkway Health and Rehabilitation Center in Stuart, Fla., after a two month illness.

Born in Baltimore and a resident of Severna Park since 1958, Mr. Gaffney moved to Stuart in November 2005. He was a civil engineer for the State of Maryland at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Martin Airport in Middle River and the University of Maryland, College Park. He retired in the late 1980s.

He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, St. Margaret's Episcopal Church and St. Martin's-in-the-Field Episcopal Church where he sang in the choirs. He was a master craftsman in wood restoration in his retirement years. He lived on the Severn River, enjoyed boating and built two speedboats.

His wife, Grace F. Gaffney, died in 2005. Surviving are one daughter, Patricia A. Gaffney of Stuart; two sons, Michael T. Gaffney of Severna Park and Evan P. Gaffney of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and one grandson.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. tomorrow and from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday at Barranco and Sons Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Highway, with a Mass of Christian burial to be offered at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. John the Evangelist Church, 689 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, Maryland Affiliate, 800 Wyman Park Drive, Suite 110, Baltimore, MD 21211. Online condolences may be made to www.barrancofuneralhome.com

As published 6/12/2007 in The Capital Newspaper, Annapolis, MD