James Taylor Gaffney ’69

Jim died May 26, 2020, surrounded by his family he loved greatly. Whether answering to James, Jim, Jamie, or Gaff, he was a much enjoyed and admired part of our class through all the years.  

Born in Binghamton, N.Y., after attending local elementary and middle school he graduated from Deerfield Academy. Jim majored in history and Russian studies and graduated cum laude. While at Princeton he was a member of Cottage Club and enjoyed skiing and lacrosse. He then served as first lieutenant in the Army.  

Jim helped found the Quebec-Labrador Foundation’s Living Rivers Conservation Education Program before earning a master’s of science degree in natural-resources policy and planning from Cornell. 

In 1980 Jim moved to New Jersey to become the executive director of the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association. He was one of the state’s leading advocates for clean water and was instrumental in protecting its waterways. Later he worked for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in water policy and planning for the Passaic River watershed. He was active as treasurer of the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space and chaired the Environmental Commission in Pennington. He was also a longtime member of the Princeton Ski and Sail Club.  

He is survived by his wonderfully devoted and always-supportive wife, Kathy; son Jeffrey ’01; daughter Megan; and brothers David ’65 and Philip. He was predeceased by his father, Miller ’33. 

His life was a full one, and he will be missed by many. His legacy of friendship and service is a rich one.