Paul F. Garnish, 86
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - Paul Francis Garnish, 86, of 97 Cobbleview Road died Monday, Jan. 17, 2011, at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield after a brief illness.
Born in Pittsfield on May 23, 1924, son of Paul and Mary Monteleone Garnish, he graduated from Pittsfield High School with the class of 1942 and from Milwaukee School of Engineering.
A proud Navy veteran of World War II, he served as a radioman and was decorated with the WWII Victory, American Theater and Asiatic-Pacific Theater medals.
Mr. Garnish was employed by the former Sprague Electric Co. in North Adams as a corporate facilities engineer and later by the Great American Financial Research Co., retiring in 2008. He was the last former Sprague employee to remain on the grounds, acting as a point person for outside contractors and maintenance teams of the 13-acre complex until Massachusetts Museum of Contempary Arts Foundation took over the buildings. He was a big supporter of the museum from the very beginning.
Among many activities he enjoyed over the years, Mr. Garnish especially loved playing golf with his wife, children and early-morning friends as a member of the Taconic Golf Club and, more recently, at the Stamford Valley Golf Course. He was an avid bridge player and cherished nights of games around the dining table with his family. He was always quick with a smile, and his dry wit brought many laughs to all who were fortunate to know him, said family. He was loved by many people in the community for his gentle ways and generous spirit.
Mr. Garnish was a longtime communicant of the Parish of Sts. Patrick & Raphael, a member of the Williamstown VFW, the Williams College Faculty Club and the Northern Berkshire Retired Men's Club.
He leaves his loving wife, the former DeLories "Dee" Tezak, whom he married on June 23, 1951; three daughters, Terese Marie Holzthum and her husband, Tom, of Rocky Hill, Conn., Mary Kathryn Garnish and her companion, Alan Bauman, of Pittsfield, and Laura Ann Garnish of Mill Valley, Calif.; six sons, Paul Matthew Garnish and his wife, Elizabeth, and Thomas Nathan Garnish, all of Williamstown, Fred Joseph Garnish of Portland, Ore., John Francis Garnish and his wife, Holly, of Pittsford, N.Y., James Damian Garnish and his wife, Emily, of Seattle, and Matthew Christiaan Garnish and his wife, Annie, of Hankins, N.Y.; a sister, Mary Mancari and her husband, Fran, of Pittsfield, and their five children; 19 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and many cousins, nephews, nieces in the Berkshires and the Midwest.
FUNERAL NOTICE - A Liturgy of Christian Burial for Mr. Garnish will take place Saturday, Jan. 22, at 10 a.m. from St. Patrick's Church. Burial will follow with military honors in the family plot in Eastlawn Cemetery in Williamstown.
Calling hours will be held Friday, Jan. 21, from 4 to 7 at Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams, Mass. Memorial donations through the funeral home are suggested for the National Transplant Foundation in honor of Thomas Garnish, started by Mr. Garnish's children to offset the expenses of a double-lung transplant needed for his youngest son.