Jack Paul Gaffney, 92, of Moreno Valley, California, passed away on July 17, 2011 in Palm Desert, California.
Jack was born October 16, 1918 in East Aurora, New York. Early in his life, his family moved to Southern California and they eventually settled in San Bernardino, where he graduated from San Bernardino High School.
He started his career in the grocery business at an early age and then enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941. Jack was stationed in England where he was a Crew Chief in the 401st squadron of the 91st Bomb group that flew B-17 missions over Germany during WWII.
Reaching the rank of Master Sergeant, Jack was awarded the Bronze Star, and gained notoriety as a "Nose Artist" who painted the B-17's with unique artwork to keep morale at a high level for the flight crews who flew dangerous missions during the war. Upon returning from the war, Jack married Jeannette Heistand and had two sons, Jeff and Jon.
Jack returned to the grocery profession and served in a variety of management positions before retiring after forty-one years of service.
A true "Renaissance Man", Jack was also an artist and an entertainer. He sang and danced professionally and was recognized as a talented artist locally. His specialty was working with scratchboard art, a difficult and demanding medium.
After retiring, Jack began a long and distinguished service to local student athletes as a sports announcer at Moreno Valley and Canyon Springs High Schools. For over thirty years, Jack announced athletic events at football and basketball games, as well as track and field meets.
As the "Voice of the Cougars", Jack was recognized for his outstanding volunteer service to the youth of Moreno Valley and was inducted into the Riverside County Office of Education Hall of Fame.
Jack is survived by his two sons and their wives, Dr. Jeff Gaffney and Dr. Nancy Marley from Benton, Arkansas; and Jon Gaffney and Dr. Dianne Gaffney from La Quinta, California. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Colleen Gaffney, Juliet Rohrer, Ryan Gaffney, Kelly Gaffney, and Scott Fisher, and six great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Miller Jones Mortuary, 23618 Sunnymead Boulevard, Moreno Valley, CA, at 11:00 a.m., with a private interment to follow at Riverside National Cemetery.
Published in The Desert Sun from July 22 to July 24, 2011.
Jack was born October 16, 1918 in East Aurora, New York. Early in his life, his family moved to Southern California and they eventually settled in San Bernardino, where he graduated from San Bernardino High School.
He started his career in the grocery business at an early age and then enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941. Jack was stationed in England where he was a Crew Chief in the 401st squadron of the 91st Bomb group that flew B-17 missions over Germany during WWII.
Reaching the rank of Master Sergeant, Jack was awarded the Bronze Star, and gained notoriety as a "Nose Artist" who painted the B-17's with unique artwork to keep morale at a high level for the flight crews who flew dangerous missions during the war. Upon returning from the war, Jack married Jeannette Heistand and had two sons, Jeff and Jon.
Jack returned to the grocery profession and served in a variety of management positions before retiring after forty-one years of service.
A true "Renaissance Man", Jack was also an artist and an entertainer. He sang and danced professionally and was recognized as a talented artist locally. His specialty was working with scratchboard art, a difficult and demanding medium.
After retiring, Jack began a long and distinguished service to local student athletes as a sports announcer at Moreno Valley and Canyon Springs High Schools. For over thirty years, Jack announced athletic events at football and basketball games, as well as track and field meets.
As the "Voice of the Cougars", Jack was recognized for his outstanding volunteer service to the youth of Moreno Valley and was inducted into the Riverside County Office of Education Hall of Fame.
Jack is survived by his two sons and their wives, Dr. Jeff Gaffney and Dr. Nancy Marley from Benton, Arkansas; and Jon Gaffney and Dr. Dianne Gaffney from La Quinta, California. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Colleen Gaffney, Juliet Rohrer, Ryan Gaffney, Kelly Gaffney, and Scott Fisher, and six great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Miller Jones Mortuary, 23618 Sunnymead Boulevard, Moreno Valley, CA, at 11:00 a.m., with a private interment to follow at Riverside National Cemetery.
Published in The Desert Sun from July 22 to July 24, 2011.
Jack Paul Gaffney, 92, of Moreno Valley, California, passed away on July 17, 2011 in Palm Desert, California.
Jack was born October 16, 1918 in East Aurora, New York. Early in his life, his family moved to Southern California and they eventually settled in San Bernardino, where he graduated from San Bernardino High School.
He started his career in the grocery business at an early age and then enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941. Jack was stationed in England where he was a Crew Chief in the 401st squadron of the 91st Bomb group that flew B-17 missions over Germany during WWII.
Reaching the rank of Master Sergeant, Jack was awarded the Bronze Star, and gained notoriety as a "Nose Artist" who painted the B-17's with unique artwork to keep morale at a high level for the flight crews who flew dangerous missions during the war. Upon returning from the war, Jack married Jeannette Heistand and had two sons, Jeff and Jon.
Jack returned to the grocery profession and served in a variety of management positions before retiring after forty-one years of service.
A true "Renaissance Man", Jack was also an artist and an entertainer. He sang and danced professionally and was recognized as a talented artist locally. His specialty was working with scratchboard art, a difficult and demanding medium.
After retiring, Jack began a long and distinguished service to local student athletes as a sports announcer at Moreno Valley and Canyon Springs High Schools. For over thirty years, Jack announced athletic events at football and basketball games, as well as track and field meets.
As the "Voice of the Cougars", Jack was recognized for his outstanding volunteer service to the youth of Moreno Valley and was inducted into the Riverside County Office of Education Hall of Fame.
Jack is survived by his two sons and their wives, Dr. Jeff Gaffney and Dr. Nancy Marley from Benton, Arkansas; and Jon Gaffney and Dr. Dianne Gaffney from La Quinta, California. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Colleen Gaffney, Juliet Rohrer, Ryan Gaffney, Kelly Gaffney, and Scott Fisher, and six great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Miller Jones Mortuary, 23618 Sunnymead Boulevard, Moreno Valley, CA, at 11:00 a.m., with a private interment to follow at Riverside National Cemetery.
Published in The Desert Sun from July 22 to July 24, 2011.
Jack was born October 16, 1918 in East Aurora, New York. Early in his life, his family moved to Southern California and they eventually settled in San Bernardino, where he graduated from San Bernardino High School.
He started his career in the grocery business at an early age and then enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941. Jack was stationed in England where he was a Crew Chief in the 401st squadron of the 91st Bomb group that flew B-17 missions over Germany during WWII.
Reaching the rank of Master Sergeant, Jack was awarded the Bronze Star, and gained notoriety as a "Nose Artist" who painted the B-17's with unique artwork to keep morale at a high level for the flight crews who flew dangerous missions during the war. Upon returning from the war, Jack married Jeannette Heistand and had two sons, Jeff and Jon.
Jack returned to the grocery profession and served in a variety of management positions before retiring after forty-one years of service.
A true "Renaissance Man", Jack was also an artist and an entertainer. He sang and danced professionally and was recognized as a talented artist locally. His specialty was working with scratchboard art, a difficult and demanding medium.
After retiring, Jack began a long and distinguished service to local student athletes as a sports announcer at Moreno Valley and Canyon Springs High Schools. For over thirty years, Jack announced athletic events at football and basketball games, as well as track and field meets.
As the "Voice of the Cougars", Jack was recognized for his outstanding volunteer service to the youth of Moreno Valley and was inducted into the Riverside County Office of Education Hall of Fame.
Jack is survived by his two sons and their wives, Dr. Jeff Gaffney and Dr. Nancy Marley from Benton, Arkansas; and Jon Gaffney and Dr. Dianne Gaffney from La Quinta, California. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Colleen Gaffney, Juliet Rohrer, Ryan Gaffney, Kelly Gaffney, and Scott Fisher, and six great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Miller Jones Mortuary, 23618 Sunnymead Boulevard, Moreno Valley, CA, at 11:00 a.m., with a private interment to follow at Riverside National Cemetery.
Published in The Desert Sun from July 22 to July 24, 2011.
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