Gone Too Soon: Henry Gaffney, Adjunct Associate Professor, Has Passed Away
24 May 2010
We’re deeply saddened by the news that our beloved Adjunct Associate Professor Henry Gaffney passed away yesterday (May 23rd).
Henry began his career in music as a solo recording artist, releasing albums on both RCA (“Waiting For A Wind”), and United Artists Records (“On Again Off Again”). He was a staff writer for Koppleman / Bandier (EMI) for 9 years. His songs have been recorded by artist from all over the world, including: Roberta Flack, Judy Collins, The Four Tops, Jennifer Warnes, Tanya Tucker, Stephanie Mills, Glen Campbell, The Pointer Sisters, Nana Mouskouri, Chris Thompson, Peaches & Herb, Faye Wong and Camillo Sesto among dozens of others. He wrote numerous songs for the Emmy winning Television series “Fame”, in addition to other TV features and in 1987 composed, arranged and produced the original score to “Sidewalk Stories, winner of the Prix Du Public at the Cannes Film Festival.
Henry taught our required freshman core Songwriting course – “Writing the Hit Song” – for many years consecutively. With his trademark mix of folksy charm and razor-sharp intellect, Henry played an instrumental role on The Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music’s faculty, bringing plenty of enthusiasm and vibrant ideas to the table. Above and beyond all else, we’ll remember Henry as a warm and generous human being.
We extend our deepest sympathy to Henry’s family and friends and we are keeping them in our thoughts and prayers at this time.
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10 Responses to Gone Too Soon: Henry Gaffney, Adjunct Associate Professor, Has Passed Away
Emily Maggiotto
May 24th, 2010 at 9:54 pm
Gaffney was the first person who showed any faith in my song writing. He taught me how to be a beginner and that to just keep working and writing, despite all of my insecurities and self criticism, was a success in and of itself. He had a great impact on the person I’ve become and I will always remember him fondly as one of the most influential professors in my life.
Sophie Ash
May 24th, 2010 at 10:36 pm
I’ll never forget Gaffney. Thank you for your wisdom, your support, your kindness, and your life lessons. I will carry them with me forever. Rest in paradise.
Jen K
May 24th, 2010 at 11:04 pm
Just last night, Sunday the 23rd, I was telling my mom the story you told our class of the time you met John Lennon. You were one of my favorite songwriting professors, and you made me laugh with your raw, Brooklyn humor.
Rest in peace, my friend.
Nicholas Sansano
May 25th, 2010 at 7:40 am
Henry was loved by all on the faculty and staff. He will be more than missed – his passing will be mourned. He was one of the “great ones”. All our love to his family, may he rest in peace.
Mike Witzer
May 25th, 2010 at 11:50 am
One of the greatest teachers I had, and certainly one of the greatest songwriters I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. His patience and lighthearted humor were unparalleled (even cracking memorable jokes during early morning classes). I’ve become a much better musician and songwriter as a result of our much too short one-semester songwriting class, and for that I am extremely grateful. Henry Gaffney will be sorely missed.
Mary
May 27th, 2010 at 8:57 pm
He will be missed. Henry was a good, decent person full of life and lots of humor. Rest in peace my friend.
Love,
Mary
Steve
May 27th, 2010 at 10:51 pm
Gaffney was the first person who showed any faith in my song writing. He taught me how to be a beginner and that to just keep working and writing, despite all of my insecurities and self criticism, was a success in and of itself. He had a great impact on the person I’ve become and I will always remember him fondly as one of the most influential professors in my life.
Kevin McCluskey
June 2nd, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Henry, Henry, Henry, man do I miss you already. A few years back, I was able to fulfill a lifelong dream of working and living in Manhattan – all because of Henry.
Henry introduced me to Jim Anderson and I was hired to teach a semester of Music Business Entrepreneurship at the Clive Davis Dept. of Recorded Music.
I got a place on the upper East Side and spent 2-3 days a week in NYC and the rest of the week back in Boston at Berklee.
Henry often made me laugh so hard I thought my teeth would pop out of my head.
Henry, you were spot on, all the time. A powerful sense of being able to observe and truly SEE what was happening.
To all my former colleagues and students at NYU, my thoughts and prayers are with you all and with Henry and his family.
Andrew
October 24th, 2010 at 5:24 am
I’ve known about this for some time, but I thought of him again this evening and googled his name. I had him for a couple of songwriting courses, and man..this guy was amazing. I remember the last time I saw him, the year following the last class I took with him: I ran into him going down the stairs from the songwriting dept offices at Berklee. He stopped me and asked me how I was doing, how my writing was going, because he “really felt I was one of the ones that could make it, that really had it.” I wish he could see what I’m writing now, I think it’s much better haha I’ve never forgotten that moment, and I never will. It meant a lot to have such a wonderful man think that much of me.
Julian gaffney
August 26th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
I’m so moved by the kind words here.
Pops,
I miss you, I cherish the memories that you and I shared, you are the greatest father and teacher I could have had.
“Happy endings, a minor bending…”
Your son,
Julian