Gary Arthur Geffken

Gary Arthur Geffken lost his long, fierce battle with squamous cell carcinoma on December 11, 2022, surrounded by his family and dear friends at his home in Royal Oak, MD. He was 72. Gary was born and raised on Staten Island, NY, where he graduated from St. Peter’s High School. He received his Bachelors of Arts degree in 1971 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a major in economics. Having been assigned Draft #2, he joined ROTC, completed his officer training, and was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy. Gary was highly proficient in all elements of naval surface warfare stationed aboard the destroyer USS Corry during the Vietnam war. He was assigned to naval gunfire missions off the coast where he served as the ship’s tactical officer in charge of defending the ship in battle. During his two tours of duty, he held many jobs including Chaplain and Navigator. He left the Navy in 1975 as a Lieutenant. He settled in Haverford, PA, and began a 30-year career on the floor of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange specializing in options trading. Originally recruited by Weeden and Co., he later joined Casella Securities as a partner, then opened his own firm, Staten Island Securities, which later was sold to Knight Financial and ultimately to Citigroup. Not surprisingly, among the stocks he specialized in was Anheuser Busch. He remained a Busch fan (Bud red, 10 oz, please) throughout his life. He retired to his property in Royal Oak and joyfully spent thousands of hours as a volunteer in the boat shop at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, achieving lifetime member status working on ancient wooden boats and driving them, learning about engines, and exchanging salty stories and myths with his good friends, usually over a sandwich and a Bud at C Street. He earned his captain’s license in order to lawfully operate the bigger vessels at the Museum. He was thrilled to accompany the young crew aboard the 1909 buy boat Old Point and the 100-year-old tug Delaware on epic journeys to Poquoson, VA, Washington, DC, Bethel, DE, and other Chesapeake ports. For 25 years he captained the chase boat that accompanied the racing log canoe, Edmee S. during hundreds of races on the Miles, Tred Avon, and Chester rivers. He had a special place in his heart for the young sailors, shipwrights, and artisans at the CBMM boat shop and aboard Edmee S. who keep alive the legend and lore of log canoe racing. His greatest joy was watching his son, Andrew, move from bail boy to winning skipper aboard several log canoes. Gary was widely known and loved by his many friends in Talbot County, MD. as a kind and generous, quiet and funny, dependable friend who faithfully visited sick pals in the hospital, freely lent thoughtful advice, and could provide almost any needed equipment from “out in the shed.” His old friendships, especially with his best childhood buddy and his college roommate, and his faithful band of local friends were enduring spots of light and support during his long illness. He is a former member of the Merion Cricket Club, the Tred Avon Yacht and Miles River Yacht clubs and Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. He enjoyed visiting museums and especially those with great art. On one trip to Italy, his companion recalls him visiting 11 major museums and 27 important churches in three cities in six days and remembering details of virtually every one for years afterwards. He loved the art of the sea, maritime images and especially the fine work of his friend, Marc Castelli. Everyone of Castelli’s log canoe series hangs in the Royal Oak house. He is survived by his children, Andrew Schaefer Geffken (Katie) of Takoma Park, MD, and Currie Margaret Geffken of Morgan Hill, CA; his beloved granddaughter, Genevieve McKernan Geffken; his longtime companion, Julie Parker McCahill of St. Michaels, MD; her daughter, Melissa McCahill Deerin (Sloan) of Chevy Chase, MD; his beloved “fake” grandchildren, as they dubbed themselves, Devon, Jack, and James Deerin; and his former wife, Deborah Mohr Geffken of Haverford, PA. He is the son of the late Margaret McKernan Geffken and Adolph “Brud” Geffken of Staten Island and Toms River, NJ. He left this earth as he had lived on it, quietly, patiently, and with enormous strength, looking out over the beautiful Tred Avon River and Tar Creek, with great reluctance for the party to be over. A memorial service is planned for Monday, January 2, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. in the VanLennep Auditorium of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and specify Edmee S. fund, 213 N. Talbot St., St. Michaels, MD, 21663; or to Talbot Hospice Foundation, 586 Cynwood Dr., Easton, MD 21601.