Ronald W. McCaffrey

Ronald W. McCaffrey of Port Jefferson Station, NY passed away at the age of 93 on May 31, 2022.

Ronald was the son of the late Raymond and Edna McCaffrey and brother of the late, Doris.  He enlisted in the U.S. Army when he was 17 and served in Korea until 1948.  He married Joan Louise in 1952.  Ronald received a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from New York University.  He started his career as an Aerospace Engineer at Republic Aviation in Farmingdale.  Ronald performed structural tests on fighter jet components and worked on materials applications for advance military concepts.  He spent the vast majority of his career working as an Aerospace Engineer for the Grumman Aerospace Corporation in Bethpage, NY and later in Reston, VA.  While at Grumman, Ronald worked on design proposals to secure government contracts for various space projects, such as the space shuttle, space station, and the space solar power system.

Ronald had a passion for anything to do with space and airplanes.  He had a private pilot’s license and loved taking his family members on various excursions across LI and New England.  After he retired in 1993, Ronald shared his extensive knowledge of history, aircraft and spacecraft as a docent at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum at the Udvar-Hazy Center, Washington Dulles International Airport, VA and the American Air Power Museum at Republic Airport on LI.  It you attended one of his tours, you would have experienced his passion for aviation.  He also had an interest in gardening and during his retirement received an Associate’s Degree in Horticulture.  He loved gaining knowledge, music, reading, swimming, traveling and family vacations.  He was known for his quick wit and dry sense of humor.

Ronald is survived by his wife of nearly 70 years, Joan Louise and his four children Susan Capek, Robert (Anne), Paul (Alyssa), and Kenneth (Diane) McCaffrey. He leaves six grandchildren, Rachel (Ryan) Hayden, Emily (Josh) Olson, Laurell, Julia, Ryan, Brooke McCaffrey and one great-grandchild, Kaleigh, as well as, several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family will receive visitors at Bryant Funeral Home, 411 Old Town Rd., East Setauket, NY on Sunday, June 5th.  Visitation hours will be from 1 – 5 p.m. and 7 – 9 p.m.  Interment will be Monday, June 6th at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Queens.  In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made to a favorite charity in memory of Ronald.