Gary Joseph McQueeney

Gary was very simply the best friend and brother anyone could ask for. He was a loyal, selfless & cranky, old soul who shared so many incredible experiences with his chosen family.

While Gary was raised mainly by his grandparents, he was particularly close to his grandmother, Claire, and his loving sister, Seana. His upbringing wasn't easy, but through kindness, hard work, stubborn independence, and a unique brand of street smarts, he created a good life, full of people who loved him dearly and would do anything for him. He built a successful career and was self-taught on the technical side; picking it up over years of gaming and refusing to call anyone for help – he could (and would) always figure it out for himself. It’s that same resourcefulness that made him an invaluable member of any team he joined and, no surprise, a friend to many that he worked for and with.

It can’t be overstated what a genuine gift he had for making friends – not acquaintances, not friends in passing, but true friends with honest and long-lasting relationships. He kept relationships from childhood and picked up new ones everywhere he went: at school, at work, at concerts, at games, in line for a roller coaster, waiting at a bar, surely even a few just walking down the street. Somehow, he always had time for each and every one of them. To his friends' kids he was Uncle Gary, and he took that title seriously.

Gary was a die-hard Rangers and Yankees fan. A self-proclaimed Metal Head, he loved Metallica, Hatebreed, and Slipknot among many others. He could quote every line of every episode of South Park, knew his Marvel inside and out, and watched horror movies the way other people watch comfort TV. He made the trip to New York Comic Con year-after-year. He liked his food spicy and his beer tasty (and not light). He was a friend to every animal he met, even the ones he was allergic to, and had a particular soft spot for cats and "his" racehorse, River Belle.

He was loud. He was unapologetically himself. And he could win anyone over in a heartbeat because of his honesty, a sense of humor that ran from warm to pitch black (depending on the room), and an inner light that shined brighter than The Luxor Sky Beam (oh, and he loved to gamble). Underneath all of it was a huge heart. For many it’s a cliche, but with Gary his was a heart that was truly made of gold. His kindness and love traveled and reverberated – and was reciprocated – further than he probably realized.

The number of people across the country grieving him today, this week, and who will continue to grieve his loss for years to come is proof of it. He will be impossible to replace.

And, while we will miss him terribly, we will also carry the happiness and countless good memories he gave to us and shared with all of us, forever.

We love you, Gary.

-JP