We have lost a wonderful person in Tom Gaffey.  

My memories are rich with his presence.  To me he was a teacher, a mentor, an advocate, and a friend.  He gave his time in so many ways to benefit others and  I was blessed to be a beneficiary.  

Tom always had time to teach, and his contributions to education in the department of Ob/Gyn at Mayo was an enrichment to everyone in that specialty.  He was always ready to give a grand rounds, add his insight into case reviews, and get the basics across to the residents.  He took young staff under his wing to make sure that the Pathology component of our specialty board exam would not be where we slipped up.  Boy was he good at that!

Similarly, his understanding of pathology made our treatment of patients more effective, though he was never known to them.

Outside of the professional side, Tom was a very active supporter of Choral Arts Ensemble and helped to make that organization an important and successful enhancement to the art scene in Rochester.

Finally, Tom was just a very great person to be around.  Always greeting with a smile and most likely making you laugh, he was one of those people you just hoped was going to be at an event that you were attending.  Just running into Tom was a memorable pleasure.

We will miss him, dearly.  Blessed be his memory.

I have just learned of Tom's passing into eternal life.  He was always so kind, soft-spoken (but firm), and knowledgeable.  He was interested in the status of our children and my wife in a concerned and compassionate way.  Professionally, he was a very humble expert and dedicated to providing information that would help our mutual patients.  He was an admired and valued colleague who will be missed at Mayo and throughout Rochester.  Our condolences to Lynne, Jim and family.  

Jim & Mary McCarthy

Dear Lynne and family,

Tom and I were friends for many years through the Walleye Club. We would occasionally meet at the Canadian Honker, early morning Rochester Athletic club, or other things.

I’ll be making a donation to Learning Is Forever in his honor. 

I will miss him.

God bless all of you,

Roger

Tom - rest in peace and comfort knowing that you were truly one of the most kind,friendly, and helpful colleagues that I was fortunate to work with. Kerry Olsen

Dr. Gaffey was one of my favorite consultants when I was in residency training at Mayo. His calm demeanor, instinctual diagnostic skills, and true kindness brought a special light to work every day. I still repeat his wise words to my own residents: "The answer is always in the paperwork." In addition to making us laugh, he reminded us that pathology diagnosis was a team effort where we relied on the information provided in the clinical record from everyone who saw the patient. Since his retirement, I have run into him several times and it was always delightful. He cared about people as much as the practice. 

My sincere condolences to Tom's family.

We have lost our historian for that epic age at Mayo, when our numbers were small enough that we knew one another so very well.  Tom was outgoing and engaging, and managed the training program with great insight, while remaining connected with those in the many other disciplines.  All these many years, even through retirement, he served as a goodwill ambassador for Mayo, expediting visits to the Clinic for friends and former colleagues when they needed the very best of medical management.

A man with a keen sense of humor and a gift for repartee, he will be sorely missed by the great many who have known him.

Mrs Gaffey,I am so sorry to hear of Dr,Gaffey passing  , I  worked with him many years in surg path lab,he was so special and I made his GYN lantern slides into slides,my sincere sympathy 

Dear Gaffey family,

I didn’t know Tom well, but we were colleagues at Mayo for many years. My cherished memory of him is the joy he exuded and the genuine interest he showed every person in every interaction. 

He was a special man. Know how admired he was by many in his life beyond those you know well as you reflect on his good life and mourn his loss. 

Jeff Korsmo 

Lynne and Family!

You are in my thoughts and prayers.  Tom was so incredibly kind and supportive of me and the LIFE Program.  I will cherish the memory of the dinner at Foundation House and the thoughtfulness he showed me.  Hugs of Comfort. 

One of our Mayo Legends, Dr. Thomas Gaffey, has passed away.  About a year ago I wrote about the origin of the GYN sub-specialty group.  Tom was GYN pathology when I did my fellowship here in 1985.  Tom was also the pathology residency director.  Each of the surgical pathologists on the staff at the time at a unique approach to problems encountered in the lab.  Tom was a brilliant diagnostician.  He connected and remained connected with those he met and mentored.  Dr. Peter Banks said, “We lost our historian for that epic age of Mayo.”  His obituary speaks of “side-splitting stories” of growing up in the fifties.  He had a way of telling stories of our pathology roots that were equally side-splitting.  Some of us in the practice have worked with Tom for many years.  He did a great deal for patients, taught and mentored many residents, and was a strong connection to our clinical colleagues.  Every time I spoke to or saw Tom he asked about the practice and those in the practice including new folks (he knew their names even though he never worked with them).  He was a people person and truly cared.  He will be greatly missed.  My condolences to The Gaffey family.

Gary

My condolences to the Gaffey family. Tom was my cousin and remember him having a great sense of humor.