COOPERSTOWN – Richard M. McCaffery, who led a life devoted to community service, especially to the Cooperstown community, entered into eternal life Monday night, December 2, 2024, at Chestnut Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Oneonta. He was 72.
Born April 22, 1952, in Greenport, Rich was one of three sons of John Arthur McCaffery and Marie (Schiavoni) McCaffery. Raised on Long Island, he graduated from high school and then attended Cornell University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Adult Education and Community Development. Later in life he returned to Cornell where he earned a Master of Science degree in 2005. During his years at Cornell, he took part in numerous professional development courses including organizational and personnel management, positive youth development, volunteer recruitment, training, recognition and evaluation, marketing, fund development and staff skills in inclusiveness, adaptability, self development, communication, teamwork, community action, stewardship and motivation. The skills he learned and developed served him well throughout his life, both professionally and in his volunteer activities.
After graduating from Cornell University in 1974, he came to Cooperstown to work for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Otsego County, and served as the Cooperative Extension Educator and Team Coordinator until retiring in 2007. During his years there Rich was responsible for overall management of the Otsego County 4-H Youth Development Program, including staff and volunteer management, program development and new initiatives, fund and marketing coordination and was liaison to community collaborators. He was the primary contact for the Cornell Cooperative Extension Nominating Committee, the Fund Development Committee, the Building & Grounds Committee and Cornell Cooperative Extension Membership Development.
In his retirement, Rich was a freelance consultant to human service not-for-profit organizations. From September of 2008 until 2014 he worked with the Bassett Healthcare Network as a community educator for injury prevention as well as public health initiatives. During this time he developed Safe Kids of Otsego County, which was part of a worldwide educational network that is the first and only international nonprofit organization dedicated solely to preventing unintentional childhood injury. He served on the Safe Kids Coalition of Otsego County Board of Directors from 1995-2014. Rich also worked at The Fly Creek Cider Mill as a greeter and marketing outreach coordinator from 2008 until 2011.
Rich always found time for volunteer work, and was a model for community service, especially in his beloved Cooperstown, receiving many awards and recognitions throughout his life.
Soon after he moved to Cooperstown, Rich became a member of the Lions Club of Cooperstown and during his almost 50 years of active and dedicated membership served as Club President, Secretary, Public Relations Chair, Speaker Coordinator, and in 2010 organized the New York State Department of Transportation Adopt-A-Highway clean-up program for the Club. He truly lived up to the motto of Lions Club International: “We Serve.” In 2010, he was a recipient of the Robert J. Uplinger Distinguished Service Award for Community Service and in recognition of generous humanitarian work was a recipient in June of 2016 of a Melvin Jones Fellowship, given in honor of Melvin Jones, the founder of Lions Clubs International.
In 1975, Rich was instrumental in organizing the “Red Coats,” the volunteer assistance program at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital. He was also a Service Excellence volunteer at the hospital from 2005-2013.
Rich truly loved Cooperstown. He was always passionate about the Cooperstown Winter Carnival, serving on the committee from 1977-1979, and as chair of the event in 1978, 2018 and 2019. He was also a co-founder in 1983 of the Cooperstown Community Christmas Committee, served on the Village of Cooperstown Parks Commission beginning in 1998, the Cooperstown Friends of the Parks, Inc. Board of Directors from 2005-2007, the Village of Cooperstown Corridor (underground wiring) task force from 2006-2007, the Village of Cooperstown Bicentennial Committee from 2006-2007, the Cooperstown Pedestrian Safety Committee from 2008-2009, was a member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Cooperstown Village Library from 2011-2014 and in 2014 became a member of the Village of Cooperstown Library Board of Trustees. He was the first coordinator of the Cooperstown Lakefront Concert Series which he started in 2005 and continues to this day. Rich also created and served as the volunteer coordinator of the Adopt-A-Fire Hydrant and Adopt-A-Drain program in 2015, and was the volunteer recruiter and coordinator for regular cleaning of litter, weeds and leaves in the 37 rain gardens on Main Street.
Since 1979, Rich was a member of the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce, and served on its Board of Directors as Secretary, Executive Vice President and President from 1979-1986 and 2000-2007, and was on its Strategic Planning Committee from 2006-2009.
In recognition of his service to the Cooperstown community, he was the recipient in 2000 of the Community Citizen of the Year award and in 2012 was the recipient of the Outstanding Community Service Award by the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce. He was also a recipient in June 2016 of a Gold Lifetime Museum Pass by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
In 2011, Rich established a Leadership Scholarship for Cooperstown High School graduates pursuing an advanced course of study in community development, organizational leadership, volunteer development and hospitality and tourism.
On the county level, Rich served as a member of the Otsego Council on Human Services from 1979-2007, serving as Chair in 1992 and 1993. He also served as President of the Board of Directors from 1983 until 1990 of the Otsego County Tourism Bureau, during which time the County Bed Tax was instituted, and was on the Otsego County Bed Tax Grant Review Committee in 2008 and 2009. He was marketing and publicity consultant in 2007 and 2008 for Otsego Manor, and from 1990-1993 served on the Opportunities for Otsego, Inc. Nutrition Program for the Elderly Advisory Council. Starting in 2008 he served on the Board of Directors of the Friends of Glimmerglass State Park and the Board of Directors of the Susquehanna SPCA serving as Vice President and Secretary, and in 2007 began serving on the Board of Directors of the Executive Service Corps and was Chair of its Board in 2010 and 2011. In 2012 he received the Unsung Hero Award as a Renaissance Volunteer sponsored by The Daily Star and in 2013 was named Conservationist of the Year by the Otsego County Conservation Association.
Rich is survived by his wife of 45 years, Deb of Cooperstown; two grandchildren, Noah and Layla; a brother and sister-in-law, William and Terry McCaffery of Laurel Springs, North Carolina; and two nephews, Robert and Thomas.
He was predeceased by his son Jeremy in 2018; father “Arty” in 1976; mother Marie in 2005; brother Joe in 2019; stepfather Horace Corwin in 2012; and nephew Bruce in 1985.
In keeping with Rich’s instructions and wishes, there will be no services or gathering.
Please remember Rich for his dedication to community service and follow his example. And don’t forget his signature wit and sometimes not so subtle sarcasm. Smile, and know that he is at peace.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.
