Dana Gaffney, retired strategic account manager for Merchants Fleet Management, passed away on March 25 from lung cancer. She was 60.

Gaffney began her career in the automotive industry at Zimbrick, Inc., a large dealership in Madison, Wis. While working at Zimbrick, Gaffney met her husband, Richard Gaffney. They married in 1994.

After Zimbrick, she worked for Kayser Leasing as a client services specialist. Gaffney continued her employment in the vehicle leasing and fleet management industry as the operations manager for both Velcor and ULTEA for a number of years. (ULTEA was purchased by ALD Automotive in late 2007 and became ALD Automotive USA, which was ultimately acquired by Merchants Fleet Management. Gaffney worked as a strategic accounts manager at Merchants Fleet Management from 2010-2016.

Gaffney grew up in Mount Horeb, Wis., with her five sisters, and graduated from Mt. Horeb High School in 1974. Following graduation, Gaffney met and married her first husband Robert James Gilbertson with whom she had two children, Danielle and Corey.

 “I had the privilege of working alongside of Dana for 10 years.  She was a tremendous colleague with an incredible work ethic from whom I learned an immense amount.  More importantly, I gained a lifelong friend that was extremely passionate about everything she was involved with,” said Mike Eggers, VP of sales for Southgate Lease Services in Milwaukee, Wis. Eggers had worked with Gaffney for 10 years at ULTEA and ALD Automotive USA.  “Dana was a deeply caring and generous person who always put others first. Her energetic, positive attitude was infectious and she was one of those people that leave a lasting imprint on your heart,” added Eggers. “Dana was a beautiful person who will be missed dearly by so many people and remembered indefinitely by all those who were fortunate enough to cross her path.”