Gary Backof
October 2, 1947 — December 10, 2021
Gary Michael Backof, 74, of Mt. Airy, MD passed away peacefully on December 10, 2021 at Kline Hospice House, where he spent his last couple of weeks being lovingly cared for by the incredible hospice staff. After spending the day before with visitors and having messages read to him from those who couldn’t be there, he was ready to “go home.”
Gary was born on October 2, 1947 to the late Frederick Thomas Backof and Christine Mary Backof (nee Scardapane) in Baltimore, MD. After Gary graduated from Mount Saint Joseph High School in 1965, he went on to receive a B.A. in Secondary Education from Towson State College. Immediately upon graduating college, he was drafted and honorably served his country in the United States Army as a Military Police Officer in Ft. Knox, KY from 1969-1971. During that time, he met the love of his life, Connie, when three servicemen met a couple of sisters and their friend at a drive-in movie. Gary and Connie were married in 1971 and returned to Maryland to start their life together. In 1972, they had a daughter, Erika Christine. She became their world and they spent the rest of their lives as devoted parents. In 2002, their grandson, Adam Thomas, was born and they discovered a new type of love that only grandparents know. They built a beautiful life and remained married for almost 38 years until they were parted by her death in 2009. Gary was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He provided unwavering support for his family, while also being present and involved. He truly enjoyed simply being there. Family was everything!
Gary began working for the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company as a teenager and spent over 40 year with the company. He was the Training and Staffing manager from 1987-1999 and was most proud of launching and implementing the Quality of Work Life participative management program. He spent the last six years with the company as the Distribution Superintendent before retiring from the company in 2006. He spent the next four years working for Chase Card Services from 2006-2010 until the Frederick, MD location closed. After turning down their offer to become a manager and relocate to Orlando, he entered permanent retirement.
He and his family were active in St. Bernadine’s Church growing up, where he was an altar boy and attended grade school. He often told the story about taking $1.00 to school every Friday to pay his tuition. CYO always provided him with something wholesome and productive to do while growing up. He was a leader in the organization and felt blessed to have the guidance and support of the organization. When he was a teenager, his family moved and he joined St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Gwynn Oak, MD. St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Libertytown, MD became his place of worship when he moved to Frederick County in 2001. His Catholic faith molded him and comforted him throughout his life. He never lost his faith, even after meningitis stole his sight back in 2016 and, most recently, as his end of life approached. He was truly a faithful servant.
Gary is survived by his daughter, Erika Haynal; grandson, Adam Hayes; brother, Michael (Casey) Backof; mother-in-law, Anna Christine Adams (nee Johnson); sisters-in-law, Cathy Bell-Thomas, Carolyn (Kelly) Ives, Carla (Doug) Kelley and Cynthia (George) Nichols; several cousins and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Connie Adams Backof; loving parents, Frederick Thomas and Christine Mary Backof; father-in-law, Dean Elroy Adams; brothers-in-law, Donald Hilton Bell and Brian Lee Thomas.
Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Burrier-Queen Funeral Home & Crematory P.A., 1212 W. Old Liberty Road, Winfield (beside South Carroll High School) on Friday, December 17 from 2 to 4pm and 6 to 8pm with a Christian Wake at 7:30pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, December 18 at 12pm at St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, Libertytown (Route 75 and Route 26). Interment St. Peter's Cemetery. If you so desire, donations may be made in Gary’s memory to Kline Hospice House 7000 Kimmel Rd. Mt. Airy, MD 21771. Online condolences at www.burrier-queen.com
Gary was born on October 2, 1947 to the late Frederick Thomas Backof and Christine Mary Backof (nee Scardapane) in Baltimore, MD. After Gary graduated from Mount Saint Joseph High School in 1965, he went on to receive a B.A. in Secondary Education from Towson State College. Immediately upon graduating college, he was drafted and honorably served his country in the United States Army as a Military Police Officer in Ft. Knox, KY from 1969-1971. During that time, he met the love of his life, Connie, when three servicemen met a couple of sisters and their friend at a drive-in movie. Gary and Connie were married in 1971 and returned to Maryland to start their life together. In 1972, they had a daughter, Erika Christine. She became their world and they spent the rest of their lives as devoted parents. In 2002, their grandson, Adam Thomas, was born and they discovered a new type of love that only grandparents know. They built a beautiful life and remained married for almost 38 years until they were parted by her death in 2009. Gary was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He provided unwavering support for his family, while also being present and involved. He truly enjoyed simply being there. Family was everything!
Gary began working for the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company as a teenager and spent over 40 year with the company. He was the Training and Staffing manager from 1987-1999 and was most proud of launching and implementing the Quality of Work Life participative management program. He spent the last six years with the company as the Distribution Superintendent before retiring from the company in 2006. He spent the next four years working for Chase Card Services from 2006-2010 until the Frederick, MD location closed. After turning down their offer to become a manager and relocate to Orlando, he entered permanent retirement.
He and his family were active in St. Bernadine’s Church growing up, where he was an altar boy and attended grade school. He often told the story about taking $1.00 to school every Friday to pay his tuition. CYO always provided him with something wholesome and productive to do while growing up. He was a leader in the organization and felt blessed to have the guidance and support of the organization. When he was a teenager, his family moved and he joined St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Gwynn Oak, MD. St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Libertytown, MD became his place of worship when he moved to Frederick County in 2001. His Catholic faith molded him and comforted him throughout his life. He never lost his faith, even after meningitis stole his sight back in 2016 and, most recently, as his end of life approached. He was truly a faithful servant.
Gary is survived by his daughter, Erika Haynal; grandson, Adam Hayes; brother, Michael (Casey) Backof; mother-in-law, Anna Christine Adams (nee Johnson); sisters-in-law, Cathy Bell-Thomas, Carolyn (Kelly) Ives, Carla (Doug) Kelley and Cynthia (George) Nichols; several cousins and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Connie Adams Backof; loving parents, Frederick Thomas and Christine Mary Backof; father-in-law, Dean Elroy Adams; brothers-in-law, Donald Hilton Bell and Brian Lee Thomas.
Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Burrier-Queen Funeral Home & Crematory P.A., 1212 W. Old Liberty Road, Winfield (beside South Carroll High School) on Friday, December 17 from 2 to 4pm and 6 to 8pm with a Christian Wake at 7:30pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, December 18 at 12pm at St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, Libertytown (Route 75 and Route 26). Interment St. Peter's Cemetery. If you so desire, donations may be made in Gary’s memory to Kline Hospice House 7000 Kimmel Rd. Mt. Airy, MD 21771. Online condolences at www.burrier-queen.com
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