Curtiss H. Mcgaffin, Jr.

Curtiss H. McGaffin, Jr passed away on Saturday, October 2nd, 2021 after contracting COVID-19. He was 85 years old. Curt was born in Baltimore, MD on January 13, 1936 to the late Audrey Merle (Romoser) and Curtiss Hewitt McGaffin, Sr. He attended the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in Baltimore, completing the “A Course” program while competing on their swim team as a powerful back-stroker. He spent summers with his lifelong friend, Joel, learning to sail the Chesapeake and finding out the hard way that, “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky at morning, sailor’s warning.” Upon graduation, he received nomination and was appointed to the United States Naval Academy, where the Navy Varsity swim team also benefited from his back-stroke skills. He honed his sailing expertise as a midshipman, and was enjoying shore leave in Philadelphia, PA when he met Janet M. Hartley at a YMCA dance. Curt graduated from the Naval Academy in 1958 with a general engineering degree but did not receive a commission because of continued problems with asthma. He accepted an engineering position with Martin-Marietta Corporation in Middle River, MD and did Design Assurance work on the Saturn and other rocket programs. He married Janet in October 1958 and settled in the Baltimore area, welcoming Linda Marie in the summer of 1959 and Valerie Gail in the summer of 1961. After nine years with Martin’s, the family relocated to the Philadelphia suburbs, where Curt was hired by American Electronic Laboratories, Inc. (AEL). He performed Design Assurance studies and testing of military airborne jammers from 1967 until his retirement in 2001. Curt was an active member of Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church (OLHC) in Abington PA for 53 years as a eucharistic minister, usher, cantor, blood drive organizer, and volunteer with Holy Name Society and Saint Vincent DePaul Society. He also enjoyed participating in life at Gwynedd Estates, the continuing care community where he spent his later years. The staff and residents there fondly remember his gentle nature and especially the huge smile he wore when enjoying his favorite meal, hard-shell crabs. Curt is survived by his loving daughter Valerie M. Shoulberg, son-in-law Mark A. Shoulberg, and Grand-daughter Natalie K. Shoulberg, of Doylestown, PA, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Preceding him in death are his beloved wife Janet M. (Hartley), daughter Linda M., and sister Marguerite (Rush). Services and interment private at the convenience of the family due to ongoing COVID concerns. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Red Cross. Services entrusted to the Joseph J. McGoldrick Funeral Home, Jenkintown, PA. Condolences: www.McGoldrickFH.com