R. Michael McCaffreyR. Michael McCaffrey died peacefully from complications related to cerebral vascular disease on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021, at Hospice of Southern Kentucky at the age of 79.
Mike was born in Parkersburg, W.Va., on April 6, 1942, to Margaret Rita (née McDermott) McCaffrey and Robert J. McCaffrey. He was very proud of the fact that he’d traveled the world for his work as an executive in the medical industry and as an officer in the U.S. Navy, visiting six continents, more countries than his family could count and 49 states.
After serving on the USS John Willis and teaching economics at the Naval Academy, Mike spent 13 years at Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon division, during which time he advanced to vice president of product management and was a member of the team that invented the world’s first disposable skin stapler, which Mike named the Proximate. He then worked at DePuy Orthopedics for 15 years, serving as president of DePuy USA, as well as president of DePuy Motech and founder and president of DePuy Spine. He was also the first layman to be elected to the board of directors of the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation.
In 1999, Mike retired, and he and his wife, Penny, started spending their winters on Hutchinson Island in Stuart, Fla., and their summers on Winona Lake. It was a dream come true for this lifelong angler, who could often be found fly fishing all over town. During retirement, Mike volunteered with St. Vincent de Paul, where he worked with the homeless population in Stuart, Florida, for 17 years.
When Mike moved to Kentucky, in June of 2020, he said with joy and resignation, “I guess this will be my last state.” In a sense, it was a homecoming for Mike as he spent a large portion of his childhood in Nashville, graduating from Father Ryan High School before earning his Bachelor of Arts and MBA from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Mike is survived by his devoted wife of 56 years, Penny Weems McCaffrey; two daughters: Molly (David Bell) McCaffrey and Katie (Chris) Brandt; two granddaughters: Emma and Melanie Brandt; his sisters: Betsy (John) Knab and Peggy (Jim) Barr; and numerous in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Robert and Margaret McCaffrey; and his sister, Jane (née McCaffrey) Concannon.
A private Mass and burial was held on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021.
*****
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mike’s memory to the Holy Spirit Catholic Church food bank in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the St. Joseph Catholic Church Carpenter’s Kitchen in Stuart, Florida, or Hospice of Southern Kentucky.
Full obituary can be found online: https://www.jckirbyandson.com/obituaries/Robert-Michael-McCaffrey?obId=22281861#/obituaryInfo.
