George Vaughn

George Vaughn, also known as Junior and Foddah, was born on September 17, 1941, in a small coal mining town in Glen Rogers, West Virginia to Marion "Helen" Campbell and George Vaughn, Sr., and was one of three siblings.  After being widowed, his mother moved the family north to New York City in 1956.

George graduated from Haaren High School (now associated with John Jay College) in 1960, and during that time obtained an advanced swimming degree (1957).  He taught himself to play the bass guitar and spent many years working among the rising musicians in the Bronx and Harlem.  He met and married Maxine Gumbs (divorced) and from this union, a daughter, Keba, was born.

He later joined the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority as first a conductor on the train, and later a construction flagman, and ultimately an official photographer for the MTA - spending over 20 years with "Transit".  He received an emblem and award in appreciation and recognition for loyal service from the New York City Metropolitan Transportation System on October 17, 1992, when he retired.

Once retired, George started his bucket list of places to visit, photograph and gain an understanding of cultures.  His main interest was the Motherland (Egypt/Africa), but he also traveled to Costa Rica, Guatemala, Morocco, Honduras, Haiti, Jamaica, Belize and Sedona, Arizona.  He thirsted for knowledge with a natural skillset of understanding what people find complex.  He had a deep love of his black ancestry and studied history voraciously (including under renown scholars and Egyptologist, Dr. Yosef Ben-Jochannan and Professor George Simmonds), and traveled to Egypt three times to see the great pyramids and other historical sites - capturing the knowledge of our ancestors, ancient history and the amazing pyramids.  George successfully completed the study of pyramids and tombs in (Kemet) on the Kemet Nu “Know Thyself” Educational Tour in 2011, and never ceased seeking knowledge of his ancestry and the universe.  He purchased a telescope as he studied the planets and instilled the same enthusiasm and curiosity about life and the universe in his beloved grandson, "John John" - even buying him his first microscope.  And, as a self-taught photographer, he learned to develop beautiful pictures first in black and white, and then the more complex color photography.

He is survived by daughter, Keba T. Vaughn and grandson, John Vaughn-Prince ("John-John"), cousins Michael Campbell of Washington, D.C., and T. Brunson of Mt. Vernon, NY and countless friends including fellow MTA co-worker, Nixon “Nick’ Earle, Ingrid Dixon, Roxanne Green, travel friends Penny Gentry & Jerry Vaughn (deceased), and Zach Vaughn. Also left to grieve are his second family and post-retirement colleagues and friends: Marc Skopov, Maria Chua, Stewart Martin, Kristin Thayer, Mildred Villegas, Drupati ‘Dru’ Singh, Lucas Soto, John Ditta and Marilda Bonilla-Ditta who all affectionately nicknamed George, "Top Gun".  (His sisters Maxine Moore and Phyllis McNeil Cobb pre-deceased him).

Sincere gratitude and extended thanks to the staff at Rosary Hill Hospice in Hawthorne for their exceptional care of George in his last days, particularly Joann Frey, Sisters Rita Marie and Mary Michaela, Nurses Wagner, Ray, and Lou.  Along with Certified Nursing Assistants, Curtis, Junior, Yawo, Kim, Tyler, Doug and Ken.  The family graciously requests that in lieu of flowers donations should be directed towards George's grandson’s College Education Fund at the following link: https://gofund.me/16dfe90e

George is now among our great ancestors and will live on forever in our hearts.  We will always miss his presence in our lives.  George, rest in peace!

Thank you so much for the tremendous love, kind gestures, words of encouragement, condolences and unwavering support during this challenging time of our sorrow. We have received and continue to receive such an outpouring of light and I am exceptionally grateful as we honor a true legendary King, my father and grandfather, George Vaughn.

Peace & Love. All the details are below.