Gerald Garrigan

Gerald Garrigan, age 91, passed away peacefully of natural causes at the home of his daughter on July 23, 2022. Gerry was surrounded by his loving family while listening to his favorite opera, La Boheme. He has now joined his wife Geri, his Funny Valentine, to whom he was married for 55 years.

Gerry was born and raised in Manhattan, a stone’s throw from the old Polo Grounds, on June 29, 1931, to Francis and Lucille (Mackey) Garrigan. He graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in 1949 and attended Fordham University. Gerry served in the United States Air Force and was stationed at Dow Air Force Base in Bangor, Maine from 1953-54. He was Honorably Discharged on April 24, 1954.

Gerry had a tremendous love of the theatre that germinated in high school. While he was in the service, Gerry acted and sang in numerous productions at the Bangor Civic Theatre, including The Philadelphia Story, The Heiress and The Man Who Came to Dinner. He then did two years of summer stock in Tamworth, New Hampshire at the Barnstormers Theatre, one of the country’s longest-running professional summer theatres.

Gerry then returned to New York and studied under Herbert Berghoff and legendary acting coach Stella Adler. Stella eventually cast Gerry and directed him in her production of Paul Green and Kurt Weill’s musical play, Johnny Johnson, at the Carnegie Hall Playhouse. Following that, Gerry was directed by the venerable Noel Coward in Conversation Piece, staged at the Barbizon Plaza Theatre, and co-starring Joan Copeland. During this time, live television was thriving, and Gerry appeared on Studio One, Armstrong Circle Theatre, Kraft Theatre, Camera Three and Omnibus.

One wife and three children later, Gerry’s part-time gig at the American Automobile Club of America became a full-time affair. He worked for the Emergency Service Department for AAA and worked his way up to Director of Emergency Road Service, New York City. He took an early retirement at age 53.

This early retirement gave Gerry an opportunity to travel with his girl, Geri. One of their favorite places was Lineken Bay, in Booth Bay Harbor, Maine. He took up sailing, and they would return every summer to sail and enjoy the lovely New England summer weather.

Gerry’s early retirement also gave him an opportunity to resume his theatre interests. He began studying under Elaine Stritch in Manhattan, and he acted in and directed numerous local productions at the Antrim Playhouse and the Elmwood Playhouse in Rockland County, where Gerry moved the family of five in 1972. Some of his directing credits include Art, A Few Good Men and Noises Off. Some of his most memorable acting roles were in Deathtrap, On Golden Pond, and perhaps his most iconic role as Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha.

Gerry is survived by his older brother Donald Garrigan (wife Anna Marie), daughter Tracy Garrigan-Bounassi (husband Frank), brothers Jeff and Brian Garrigan (wife Cheryl Klaver), grandchildren Paige, Tyler and Lauren Bounassi, Julia and Kees Garrigan and Matthew and Sean Garrigan.

A Celebration of Life for Gerry will be held at:

Michael J. Higgins Funeral Service, 321 South Main Street New City, NY 10956

Thursday, August 4th from 3pm to 7pm

Memorial and Burial

Friday August 5th from 10am to 12pm