Robert Gaynes

Longtime Harrisburg resident, Robert F. Gaynes passed away surrounded by family at home on December 27, 2022, after a brief illness. He was 93 years old. Bob was born in Canton, Ohio in 1929 to Macy and Olive Ginsburg. After earning a bachelor's degree from Ohio University, Bob served in Europe as a lieutenant in the Air Force. Following his discharge, Bob took up residence in Pittsburgh, began a family, and learned about the medical supply business from the ground up. He was a mechanically minded and natural salesman, a perfect fit for this type of business. In 1962, Bob purchased the Harrisburg Surgical Co. and planted his roots in Harrisburg. By the time he sold the company in 1986, he had five stores in Pennsylvania with 130 employees. Then known as Harrisburg Healthcare, the business had expanded from a small retail surgical supply company to include a durable medical supply rental division, a home liquid oxygen distributor, a medical interior design business, and a handicap vehicle conversion company. Bob was an active leader in the community serving as CEO of the Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce (1979-80) and campaign chair for the Jewish Federation, the Tri-county United Way, the Jewish Home, and as co-chair with his wife Gail, Wildwood Nature Center. His philanthropic giving was wide and deep, supporting the Central Pennsylvania Food bank, Susquehanna Service Dogs, and many, many more organizations. Bob's stores were filled with photographs from his and Gail's many travels around the world. Bob was an avid birder and photographer and enjoyed traveling with many well-known naturalists. In retirement, his passion for woodturning filled their home with hundreds of exquisite bowls and other turnings. This past Thanksgiving was spent with his granddaughters in the shop teaching them how to turn. Bob is survived by Gail, his loving wife of 56 years, his sister, Janet, and four children, Marc (Mimi), Carole (Tony), David R. (Caroline), and Michael, seven grandchildren, Jocelyn, Jillian (Adam), Jordan, Peter, Nate, Sophie, and Chloe, and three great grandchildren, Keller, Willow, and Esther, as well as his daughter-in-law, Amy. He was predeceased by his first wife Phyllis, and a son, David M.