James L. Garrett

Jim Garrett, 73, who was born October 21, 1930 in Bloomfield, NJ and grew up in Waterbury, CT, passed away from cancer on June 7, 2004 at Hospice House in Easton, MD. Mr. Garrett graduated from Crosby High School in Waterbury, CT where he became a New England interscholastic diving champion. After high school he enrolled at the University of Connecticut but soon left to serve his country during the Korean Conflict. On his arrival in Seoul, the Army assigned him to Special Services where he put on diving shows for the troops with Olympic diving champion and future Olympic coach, Dr. Sammy Lee. He was later assigned to the Red Cross to organize swimming, diving and water safety classes for the Armed Forces. When the war ended Mr. Garrett went back to the University of CT to obtain his degree in Physical Education. He became Associate Physical Education Director, as well as swimming and diving coach for the Waterbury, CT YMCA. While he was coach his aquatic teams went undefeated for 10 years in the high school age group. In 1968 he accepted the position of Associate Director of the Talbot County YMCA and moved his family to Easton, MD. He was responsible for the aquatic programs and many of the other physical activities. In 1973 he accepted the position of Executive Director of the YMCA of Salem, NJ commuting from his residence in Easton. In 1978 Jim Garrett changed careers and in a supervisory position joined Airpax/Philips Electronics N.V. in Cambridge, MD where he was employed until his retirement in 1995. He represented Airpax at the Cambridge Rotary Club, an organization he had served since 1968. He was a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, had been previously active in two other clubs and served as club president on two different occasions. Mr. Garrett also continued his service to the Talbot County YMCA as a member of the board of directors, swimming coach and instructor for men’s exercise classes. Mr. Garrett is survived by his wife of 10 years, Margaret (Nancy) Garrett; a brother, Robert, of Gans, Oklahoma; a son and daughter-in-law, Timothy and Rheema Garrett of Vienna, VA; a daughter and son-in-law, Maureen and Jeffrey Johnson, of Easton, MD; 3 Stepchildren, William J. Hollis of Chicago, Ill; Eric Hollis of Hillsboro KY; Cheryl Hollis Botak of Media, PA and six grandchildren. Joan Chipman Garrett, his first wife, passed away in 1988. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Cambridge VFW, 115 Sandy Hill Rd Cambridge MD on Friday June 11th at 11am. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations should be sent to the Talbot Hospice Foundation, 586 Cynwood Drive, Easton, MD, 21601. Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., Easton, MD.