Obituary of Thomas Rafferty

Thomas Francis Rafferty, age 92, of Millcreek Twp., Erie, PA, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 22, 2015. He was born in Pittsburgh, PA on May 12, 1923, the son of the late James F. and Catherine A. Rafferty. He graduated from West View High School and entered the US Army Infantry in the European Theater in WWII in 1943. He was wounded in Germany on Thanksgiving Day in 1944; was honorably discharged in 1945, and awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star with cluster for his service. Upon returning to the States he attended The University of Pittsburgh earning a BS degree in 1948 and a Masters in Retailing from Pitt University-Katz Business School in 1949. He began his extensive retailing career at the Joseph Horne Company in 1949 in Pittsburgh in many operating and merchandising capacities. In 1964, he joined The Kaufman's Dept. Stores as Vice President and Director of Personnel. He was promoted to Corporate Vice President of Operations in 1969 for all the May Dept. Stores-headquartered in St. Louis. In 1972, he was made Chairman of the Board of May Company California in Los Angeles. In 1974, he returned to Pittsburgh as Chairman of the Board and CEO of Kaufman's in Pittsburgh. In 1976, he was named Chairman of May Company's largest 47 store division-Venture Stores located in St. Louis, Chicago, and Kansas City. Upon his retirement from May Co. in 1983 he purchased the H.C. Lytton Stores in Chicago from Cluett Peabody & Co. He was a busy retail management consultant from 1985 to 1992 in FL and CA before retiring in Erie, PA with his wife, Kathe Weschler Rafferty. He served on numerous charitable boards including: in Pittsburgh-the Golden Triangle Association, The National Retail Merchants Assn., Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, St. Francis Hospital, Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Symphony, and the Civic Light Opera Assn. He was a trustee of Carlow College and served on the Board of Visitors at the University of Pittsburgh. In St. Louis (1978), he was appointed by Missouri Governors, Joseph P. Teasdale and Kit Bond to serve a six year term on the six member, Board of Regents for Harris-Stowe State College. He also served on the Board of Directors of the National Mass Retailers Assn. He was a past member of the Old Warson Country Club in St. Louis, the Kahkwa Club in Erie, Highland Country Club, South Hills Country Club, and Duquesne Club in Pittsburgh; The Media Club and International Club in Chicago. Mr. Rafferty enjoyed tennis, golf, skiing, football, and reading. In 1982, he and his wife (Kathe) were appointed US Sports Ambassadors by President Reagan to the "People-to-People US Sports Tennis Team" trip through France and Italy. He is survived by his beloved wife of 39 years, Kathe Weschler Rafferty, whom he met while opening the Kaufman-Erie branch store in 1974 where she was the benefit opening party chairman; daughter, Laurel Pascoe, two sons: Thomas P. Rafferty (Heidi) and Stephen Rafferty (Anne); daughter-in-law, Karen Ilkin (Tunch); brother-in-law and sister-in-law: former Congressman Philip S. English and Christiane Weschler English. Two nieces, Vanessa Arvid (Thomas) and Cindy Santiago (Carlos) and two nephews, John Rafferty (Kim) and Bruce Rothman; three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother Lt. Col. James E. Rafferty (Joan); a son Kent Rafferty and a daughter, Kathleen Rafferty. There will be no calling hours. Burial will be private at Arlington National Cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd.