  CAPT Gary Alan Seffel, USN (Ret), 67, passed away on April 26, 2024. Born on May 5, 1956, to Melvin and Marcella (Voigt) Seffel, he was the youngest of four siblings.
He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1978 via an NROTC scholarship and followed his two elder brothers and father into commissioned service. It was also at A&M that he met his beloved wife of 44 years, Jane, a student-athlete who lived near the Corps dorms and caught his eye across the quad. Gary and Jane married in New Braunfels in November 1979, while Gary was on a brief leave from Naval flight school in Pensacola, FL. Following training, he became a Naval Flight Officer, flying E-2Cs with the 'Bear Aces' of VAW 124. His naval career took him and Jane first to Norfolk, VA, and later to Rochester, NY, where he taught ROTC at the University of Rochester while earning his MBA. In 1989, he moved to Montgomery Village, MD with Jane and their two daughters, Emily and Lauren. He continued his service with the Navy as a reservist, retiring as a Captain in 2008 after 30 years of service and three deployments. Alongside his Naval service, his career took him from Citibank to Northrop Grumman and eventually to the Transportation Security Agency and the National Security Council advising the White House. A lover of travel and nature, he and Jane pursued adventures around the globe, including summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2010. In 2015, he combined these passions with his career, moving with Jane to Nairobi, Kenya, where he served for five years as the TSA Attaché for East Africa. After retiring in 2023, Gary was building his dream home in Fredericksburg TX, to share with Jane, his devoted canine companion Bolter, and their family. He is survived by his wife of 44 years Jane; daughter and son-in-law Emily and Larry G. Jones III of Floresville TX; daughter and son-in-law Lauren Seffel and Peter Najda of Paris, France; grandchildren Sealy and Larry (LJ) Jones and Sidney Najda; as well as sister-in-law Beverly Seffel of Austin, TX; brother Gerald Seffel and wife Diana Hirras of San Antonio, TX; and sister Jennifer Graham and husband Lee of New Braunfels, TX. He will also be deeply missed by nephew John Seffel; niece Jessica Burtch-Hepburn and husband Ken Hepburn; nephew Chris Seffel; nephew Matthew Burtch and wife Lisa Burtch; and great-nieces Adelaide Burtch and Pippa Hepburn. He is preceded in death by his parents Melvin and Marcella Seffel and brother Joel Seffel. A funeral service was held on May 7, 2024, at First Protestant Church of New Braunfels with the Rev. Dr. Andrew Keuer officiating.
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 John Walter Covell, age 69, resident of Bellport, LI., died August 19, 2024.
John was a stalwart of the VAW-VRC Community, serving as CO of VAW-113 ("Black Eagles") and Commodore. After the Navy, he taught at the War College, worked at FEMA was an instructor at Norwich University, and was active in his local community, making significant contributions wherever he went. John is survived by his wife Maureen, his children Erin Evans (Len), Tim (Lida), Kathleen Lesniak (John), Brie Nordlander (Sverker), and John Michael, his grandchildren Charlotte, Elliot, Oliver, Freddy, Max, Audrey, Claire, Maeve, Freja, Jack, and Weston, his siblings Thomas Covell, Ann Covell, James Covell (Jacklyn), Mary Thaler (Tom), Charles Covell, and Michael Covell. The family will receive visitors Wednesday, August 21st, 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Raynor & D’Andrea Funeral Home 683 Montauk Hwy. Bayport. Funeral Mass Thursday, August 22nd, 10:00 a.m. at Mary Immaculate RC Church 16 Browns Lane Bellport. Interment will follow at Woodland Cemetery, Bellport. (Source: Raynor & D'Andrea Funeral Homes) |
VAW/VRC/VUQ Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.