Thomas Haynes McGaffigan's Obituary
Thomas “Tom” Haynes McGaffigan, 70, passed away on November 8, 2025 in his home.
Born in San Mateo, California, in 1955 to George J. McGaffigan and Marilyn H. Wilkinson, Tom grew up with a natural curiosity for how things worked. He graduated from Miramonte High School in Orinda, California, class of 1973, and went on to attend the University of California, Berkeley, later earning his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from CSU Chico. He was a member of Phi Kappa Tau.
Tom built a long and inventive career as a mechanical engineer, developing medical devices that improved patient health and outcomes. Over the course of his life, he acquired over 50 patents across fields including light technology, children’s toys, and medical devices—embodying a bit of real-life MacGyver ingenuity in everything he touched.
For more than 40 years, Tom was an active and devoted member of the Lancia and Fiat car community, including longtime involvement with Fiat America. He delighted in restoring, refining, and driving his beloved 1977 Lancia Scorpion, his daily driver for 35 years. He traveled to car shows up and down the California coast and into Oregon, serving as a knowledgeable resource within the community and helping preserve the legacy of these Italian cars. He took particular pride in teaching his children, early on, about the history and significance of Pininfarina.
Tom lived in Saratoga, California, for 31 years, where he raised his daughter and son with his first wife, Margaret McGaffigan. He married his second wife, Christine, in 2021. In retirement, they spent their days working on projects, creating, and driving Lancias together. As his illness progressed, Christine cared for him with steady support and love.
He is survived by his wife, Christine Amparo Gunn McGaffigan; his daughter, Megan McGaffigan Lang (Grant) of Vancouver, Washington; his son, Owen McGaffigan (Tierani) of Three Forks, Montana; his mother, Marilyn H. Wilkinson; and his aunt, Patricia McGaffigan of Portland, Oregon. He was preceded in death by his sister, Nancy A. Loftin, and his father, George McGaffigan.
A service to commemorate Tom will be held at Skylawn Memorial Park on November 24, 2025, from 12:00–2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD).
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