N.J. Ford And Sons Funeral Home

Rafferty, 87, founder and owner of Rafferty Subaru, whose catchy jingle, “It’s all about you, at Rafferty Subaru!” is familiar to TV and radio audiences in the Philadelphia area, died Tuesday, April 3, of complications from a stroke at his home in Newtown Square.Courtesy of the familyRobert R. RaffertyMr. Rafferty opened the car dealership at 4700 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, in 1977. It grew from a small operation selling two to three new cars a month, to one with 105 employees.As car buyers began researching purchases on the internet, the franchise changed to fit the times. Customers now chat online with a sales associate and register their car-buying preferences before going to the showroom.The dealership is perhaps best known for its jingle: “It’s all about you, at Rafferty Subaru.” The jingle helped attract  business, Mr. Rafferty’s family said. Over time, there were various versions, including “It’s All about New.”[embedded content]Mr. Rafferty ran the franchise until July 2015 when he stepped back from daily operations due to health reasons, and his two sons, Kevin M. Rafferty and Robert S. Rafferty, took over. Mr. Rafferty remained available for consultation, his family said. “He was there till the end,” said his daughter, Dinae Norris.When he went into the hospital for treatment, the nurses would bring a smile to his face by singing the business jingle, his daughter said.In July 2016, the dealership obtained permission from the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors to expand its 24,000-square-foot building by 19,000 square feet, and to add parking spaces, service bays, and a car wash for detailing. Construction began in September 2017 and is due for completion this September. Mr. Rafferty was aware of the expansion project and supported it, his family said,His daughter described Mr. Rafferty as “a quiet man, but he had this presence and strength about him, with a warm personality as well.”“He worked, and he worked, and he worked,” she said.“It’s a different generation now,” said his son Robert S. Rafferty. “There are not m... (Philly.com)